In 2001, when Strapping Young Lad was done touring, Jed and Byron got Devin Townsend to produce their second album Legion of Flames, released on his label Hevy Devy Records. It was a big step-up from their previous album, with song parodies such as Gender of The Beast" (Number of The Beast, Iron Maiden), "Sodomanaz" (Go For a Soda, Kim Mitchell), and spoofing Metallica's "Master of Puppets" in the song "Evil Robots" with the line "Napster, Napster, where's the cash that I've been after?". The album also contained a straight-out cover of Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight" with humorously altered lyrics.
In August 2007, Zimmers Hole signed with Century Media Records for the release of their third studio album. Byron and Jed had this to say:
“Now with Zimmers Hole signing a fresh, new deal with Century Media, we have decided to give this band our full and undivided attention. No more 'side-project' status here; the men of the HOLE are fired up like a city on fire and we entered Vancouver's famed Armoury Studios today to begin tracking the new release. [...] As you can see, it's all about having a good time with the HOLE. Make no mistake though, we are very serious about our love of metal; it made us who we are, and we wear our influences on our sleeves proudly. We are now more focused than ever before and are so excited about the new album. So excited in fact, that the combined length of our erections may just reach out and touch ya!”
Shortly after, drummer Steve left the band and in December 2007 was replaced by Gene Hoglan, another former Strapping Young Lad member. Gene joined in time to start the recordings for the new album. With this roster, Zimmers Hole now has 3 of 4 former SYL members, with Devin Townsend as vocal producer. The band entered Vancouver's Armoury Studios in the same month to record the album, entitled When You Were Shouting at the Devil... We Were in League with Satan released on March 11, 2008 through Century Media Records.
In an interview with MTV on April 2008, vocalist Chris Valagao explained the origin of the album's name:
“I believe David Vincent of Morbid Angel was having a conversation with one of the guys from Forbidden," he recalled. "They were drinking and fucking around, and they got into this argument over who's more metal. The dude from Forbidden, at one point, turned to Dave and said, "Dude, when you were shouting at the devil [a reference to Mötley Crüe], I was in league with Satan [a reference to Venom]," and Jed was in the room and picked up on that. So we started saying it as a joke. That little statement applies to a whole bunch of shit. Basically, "When you were a poseur, I was the real deal".
The Hole Is The Law
Zimmers Hole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bow down to this law
And have some coleslaw
I said what i meant, i meant what i said
For elephants sake... 100 percent
I meant what i said, i said what i meant
For elephants sake... 100 percent
The hole is the law
At first glance, the lyrics to Zimmers Hole's "The Hole Is The Law" may seem nonsensical and meaningless. However, upon closer inspection, the lyrics reveal a deeper message about the power structures in society and the ways in which people blindly follow rules and authority figures. The repeated phrase "the hole is the law" represents the idea that people are so caught up in following rules and authority that they overlook the absurdity of those rules themselves, even if they don't make sense or seem arbitrary. The lines "bow down to this law" and "have some coleslaw" further play with the idea that people are blindly following nonsensical rules, as even the suggestion to have coleslaw seems out of place and random.
The lyrics also touch on the importance of being authentic and true to oneself, with the lines "I said what I meant, I meant what I said" and "For elephants sake...100 percent". These lines suggest that the singer is not afraid to speak their mind and stand by their beliefs, even if they go against societal norms and expectations.
Overall, "The Hole Is The Law" is a satirical commentary on the way people blindly follow rules and authority, even if those rules make no sense. The lyrics also emphasize the importance of being true to oneself, rather than conforming to societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
The hole is the law
The void, the emptiness is a powerful force with its own rules and regulations that must be obeyed.
Bow down to this law
One must submit, cower, and yield to the power of the hole and its corresponding laws.
And have some coleslaw
Though potentially unrelated, it is recommended to partake in the consumption of the cabbage based side dish at some point.
I said what i meant, i meant what i said
The artist's words and intentions are true and clear, with no room for doubt or ambiguity.
For elephants sake... 100 percent
The artist is emphasizing the truth and sincerity of their statements by using an absurd and irrelevant comparison to elephants.
I meant what i said, i said what i meant
Repeated for emphasis and further solidifying the singer's commitment to truth and clarity in speech.
For elephants sake... 100 percent
Reiterated once more for emphasis and continued use of the elephant comparison.
Contributed by Ryan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.