A History Of Bad Men
A History Of Bad Men
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Wake up, you never looked so glum
Tell me, how will we know they can't hear us coming?
It's easy for me, I got a head-start running away
Keep up or your disease spreads quick
So how did you learn to be sick, so cunning?
It's easy to sing, but you just keep on humming along
Did you hear that? I got a real bad feeling
How many moles do you suppose they're keeping? Don't make a sound, they're not dead, just sleeping
Dire, dire, dire, it's fleeting
Dire, dire, dire, it's fleeting
Dire, dire, dire, it's fleeting
Dire, dire, dire, it's fleeting
Dire, dire, dire, it's fleeting
Dire, dire, dire, it's fleeting
Yeah
Wake up, you never looked so glum
Tell me, how will we know they can't hear us coming?
It's easy for me, I got a head-start running away
Keep up or your disease spreads quick
So how did you learn to be sick, so cunning?
It's easy to sing, but you just keep on humming along
Did you hear that? I got a real bad feeling
How many moles do you suppose they're keeping?
Don't make a sound, they're not dead, just sleeping
Overall Meaning
At its core, Melvins's "A History of Bad Men" is a dystopian warning of a world where those in charge are corrupt, manipulative, and dangerous to those who dare to resist them. The opening lines serve as a call to action, urging the listener to wake up from apathy and recognize the looming threat. The singer recognizes the urgency of the situation and appears to have escaped or avoided the grasp of the "bad men," but the question remains: how can they protect themselves and warn others without being caught?
The lyrics highlight the difficult choices one must make to evade the reach of those in power. To survive, the lyrics suggest, one must be cunning and learn how to avoid being caught. However, even with this knowledge, it is still tough to evade the watchful eyes of the "bad men," and the song's chorus of "Dire, dire, dire, it's fleeting" underscores the sense of fear and urgency that permeates the song.
Overall, "A History of Bad Men" is a powerful commentary on the dangers of unchecked power and corruption. The song's dark lyrics and relentless instrumentation underscore the sense of paranoia and danger that comes with speaking truth to power.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up, you never looked so glum
You seem quite down, have you noticed? Let's discuss.
Tell me, how will we know they can't hear us coming?
How do we make sure we're not being watched or heard?
It's easy for me, I got a head-start running away
I have an advantage since I started getting away earlier.
Keep up or your disease spreads quick
If you can't keep pace, your affliction could spread more rapidly than intended.
So how did you learn to be sick, so cunning?
You're quite good at being ill or harmful. How'd you become so skilled at it?
It's easy to sing, but you just keep on humming along
It's easy to make noise or sound, but can you actually do something about it?
Did you hear that? I got a real bad feeling
I'm sensing something ominous, did you notice it too?
How many moles do you suppose they're keeping?
I wonder how many traitors they have among the group.
Don't make a sound, they're not dead, just sleeping
Stay quiet, they're not gone yet, they're just in a state of slumber.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jared Warren, Dale Crover, Buzz Osborne, Coady Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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