moe. is an American jam band, formed at the University at Buffalo in 1991. … Read Full Bio ↴moe. is an American jam band, formed at the University at Buffalo in 1991. The current lineup includes: Rob Derhak (bass, vocals), Al Schnier (guitar, vocals, keyboard), Chuck Garvey (guitar, vocals), Vinnie Amico (drums), and Jim Loughlin (percussion).

The band's first record, Fatboy (1992), established the band as a favorite of the same 1990s scene that became popular through bands such as the Dave Matthews Band, Phish, and Widespread Panic. moe. has toured with the 1997 Furthur Festival, appeared at Woodstock '99, have played in Central Park, were the opening band for The Allman Brothers and The Who, and performed at Radio City Music Hall on New Years Eve 2006 and 2007.

They also host the annual festival moe.down at Snow Ridge Ski Area in Turin, NY. Started in 2000, the festival runs for three days and occurs every Labor Day weekend. The festival has attracted a wide variety of musical talent. Acts range from newer bands just emerging onto the scene (such as Tea Leaf Green, Nellie McKay and Raq) to big name acts and jam rock staples, such as Les Claypool, Blues Traveler, and Mike Gordon (of Phish fame); to pop rock icons, such as Leo Kottke, The Flaming Lips, The Violent Femmes; and most recently, Perry Farrell. Each year, the amount of moe.down attendees has steadily increased. moe.down I attracted around 3,000 people while moe.down VI in 2005, had attracted close to 7,000.

During an interview, guitarist Al Schnier was asked to describe moe. for those who have never heard their music: "It's an amalgamation of a wide variety of the history of rock, all regurgitated and recycled through the eyes, ears, hands, whatever of the guys in our band and all of that with a sense of adventure, a sense of humor, also a constant desire to push the envelope. All in this arena of taking chances, improvising live, and making things up on the spot."

Their official site can be found at www.moe.org

The Pit
moe. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Chorus X2)
All the way down to the bottom
All the way down to the fire
All the way down to the devil
Beelzebub
(To the bottom of the pit, now)

I got sins

Piled high
Wait for me
When I die
Holy love
Dirty deed
You don't care

(Chorus X2)

Fire burns
Cold as ice
No more hate
No more lies
Coffin nailed
Dirty deeds
No more life

(JAM)

(Chorus X4)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to moe.'s song "The Pit" seems to be about someone who's reached rock-bottom and is making their way down to the pit of fire and hell, where they will no longer have to face the consequences of their sins. The song's chorus repeats the notion of going all the way down to the devil, Beelzebub. The character in the song seems to be doing a self-reflection of their life, realizing that their sins are piled high, and there's no redemption for them. They know that holy love and dirty deed coexist, and people often turn a blind eye towards the latter.

The second verse reflects the idea that the character is done with life and its complications. The fire burns cold as ice, indicating both the physical burning of hellfire and the emotional coldness that the character feels due to their actions. They don't want to live a life full of lies and hate anymore, and they want to be done with everything.

Overall, the song is quite dark and suggests a character who has completely given up on redemption and is making his way to ultimate damnation.

Line by Line Meaning

All the way down to the bottom
Descending to the deepest point possible

All the way down to the fire
Descending to a place of eternal damnation

All the way down to the devil
Descending to the ultimate evil

Beelzebub
A reference to the prince of demons

To the bottom of the pit, now
Emphasizing the descent into darkness

I got sins
Acknowledging personal wrongdoing or guilt

Piled high
A large accumulation of sins

Wait for me
Suggesting an afterlife or judgment

When I die
Indicating the inevitability of death

Holy love
Divine or sacred affection