Hüsker Dü broke with the anti-traditionalist ethos of most early hardcore bands. Their early songwriting shows the influence of folk, 1960s pop music, blues, and other forms (although often buried under a thick layer of angst and aggression), and has a strong melodic sense. The lyrics made astute, sharp, personal and social commentary, showing a great deal of vulnerability and sympathy for their subjects. Hüsker Dü's songwriting was widely admired, and their live shows were often a venue for brilliant improvisational playing. (A feedback-laden solo guitar performance from an early-'80s soundcheck tape merited release via the avant-garde Telus Magazine.) Hüsker Dü were also, however, widely regarded as somewhat unusual-sounding in their early prime, due to the instruments' non-standard tones: Mould's guitar is described below, while Hart's drums were considered 'thumpy' (and he consistently played slightly behind the beat); Norton played bass fairly laconically even at fast tempos, using his fingers rather than a pick. The band's sound can be considered an organic synthesis of these elements -- a unit that was quite powerful in combination, yet perhaps difficult to parse singly.
A particular strength of the group was the two powerhouse singer/songwriters, Mould and Hart. The tension between their musical styles (Mould was generally the angrier songwriter, Hart the more melodic one), and their willingness to collaborate, made the sum of their contributions greater than their parts. Another strength was Mould's unique, resonant guitar sound, described by a critic at the time as "molten metal pouring from the speakers." Mid-period Hüsker Dü songs are immediately recognizable via Mould's incandescent guitar tone, achieved by splitting the signal in the studio between amplified and direct tones and adding a light stereo chorus effect. Mould's technique involved playing resonant drone notes on the high strings. Although a trio, Hüsker Dü generally sounded extremely large on record and live.
The group is also notable as one of the first 1980s American underground rock bands to contract with a major record label, a move that blazed the trail for the rise of alternative rock a few years later. Another key Minneapolis band who served as an alternative rock icebreaker was The Replacements, who had a friendly rivalry with Hüsker Dü.
Mould has gone on to release other albums, including a recent solo double album release called Body of Song. Prior to that he took a stint as a writer for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) scripting scenarios and fights.
Grant Hart died from cancer on September 14, 2017.
Could You Be The One
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hiding inside, behind another door?
Is it only happiness you want?
Does wanting a feeling matter any more?
It doesn't mean that much to me
Sometimes I don't mean that much to you
And I don't even know what I'm hiding for
And I don't even know what I'm crying for
Don't even know what I'm hiding for
Cry inside
Cry inside
Could you be the one they talk about?
Life is a game that only you can make
Maybe I'm about to throw it out
I've given it all, that's all I can take
It doesn't mean that much to me
Sometimes I don't mean that much to you
And I don't even know what I'm hiding for
And I don't even know what I'm crying for
I don't even know
Well, could you be the one?
Could you be the one?
Could you be the one that's hanging all around?
Don't even know what I'm crying for
Don't even know what I'm hiding for
Don't even try
Hide and sigh
And I don't even know what I'm crying for
Don't even know what I'm hiding for
Don't even know, could you be the only broken-hearted one?
Could you be the one?
Could you be the one?
Could you be the one that's hanging all around?
Don't even know
I don't even know?
Well, could you be the one?
Could you be the one?
Could you be the one?
Could you be the one?
The lyrics to Hüsker Dü's "Could You Be The One?" present a series of questions and ponderings about the nature of love and relationships. The song opens with the question "could you be the one they talk about?" which suggests a longing for a connection with someone special. The following lines, "hiding inside, behind another door?" and "is it only happiness you want?" suggest a fear of vulnerability and a question of whether a true connection is even possible.
The chorus repeats the lines "and I don't even know what I'm hiding for" and "and I don't even know what I'm crying for," which convey a sense of confusion and uncertainty about one's own emotions and motivations. The verse "life is a game that only you can make / Maybe I'm about to throw it out / I've given it all, that's all I can take" suggests a weariness or frustration with the game of love and the effort required to make connections.
The chorus ends with a repetition of the opening question, "could you be the one?" and the song closes with the repeating line "could you be the one that's hanging all around?" which suggests a desire for someone to stay, to be present and available.
Overall, "Could You Be The One?" presents a complex and introspective view of love and relationships, exploring themes of vulnerability, uncertainty, and the search for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you be the one they talk about?
Do you fit the description of the person they speak of?
Hiding inside, behind another door?
Are you concealing yourself from the world?
Is it only happiness you want?
Are you only seeking joy?
Does wanting a feeling matter any more?
Is the desire to experience an emotion still important?
It doesn't mean that much to me
It's not that significant to me
Sometimes I don't mean that much to you
Occasionally, I'm not very important to you
And I don't even know what I'm hiding for
I'm unsure why I'm trying to hide
And I don't even know what I'm crying for
I'm uncertain why I'm shedding tears
Don't even know what I'm hiding for
I genuinely don't know why I'm trying to conceal myself
Cry inside
Sob on the inside
Could you be the one they talk about?
Do you fit the description of the person they speak of?
Life is a game that only you can make
You're the only one who can create your own life
Maybe I'm about to throw it out
Perhaps I'm ready to give up
I've given it all, that's all I can take
I've given everything I have, it's all I can handle
Well, could you be the one?
Maybe you're the right person
Could you be the one that's hanging all around?
Are you the one always present?
Don't even try
Don't even attempt
Hide and sigh
Conceal and sigh
Don't even know, could you be the only broken-hearted one?
I'm not certain, but maybe you're the only one suffering from heartbreak?
Could you be the one?
Are you the right person?
I don't even know?
I'm not sure
Could you be the one?
Maybe you're the right person
Could you be the one?
Are you the right person?
Could you be the one?
Maybe you're the right person
Could you be the one?
Are you the right person?
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB MOULD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maxdobasquete
Could you be the one they talk about?
Hiding inside, behind another door?
Is it only happiness you want?
Does wanting a feeling matter any more?
It doesn't mean that much to me
Sometimes I don't mean that much to you
And I don't even know what I'm hiding for
And I don't even know what I'm crying for
Don't even know what I'm hiding for
Could you be the one they talk about?
Life is a game that only you can make
Maybe I'm about to throw it out
I've given it all, that's all I can take
Could you be the one
Could you be the one
Could you be the one that's hanging all around
Don't even know what I'm hiding for
Don't even know what I'm crying for
Don't even know, could you be the only
Broken hearted one
@LyncherAL23
Thank you Nirvana, for introducing me to Pixies (who I saw as my first ever gig), Thank you Pixies, for introducing to me, the most talented, underrated, beautiful band. Husker Du.
@ziberman1
Ditto
@brianbolger6313
Now thank Husker Du for introducing you to the Buzzcocks!
@stefanperreault7222
3
@zhiguli8
Funny. I kind of went in reverse. Was listening to speed metal and stuff like REM and U2 in the late 80s. I heard a Husker Du song I loved on the radio from a local independent station in the Midwest (KFMH), but didn't quite get the band name. I thought it was Hoodoo Gurus and when I finally found a song of theirs, I realized that wasn't right. I had a friend who listened to a lot punk and new wave and I think he finally got turned on to Husker Du and was playing one their songs and I was like "That's it! That's the song I heard" It seems now like a logical progression that I would get into the Pixies and later Nirvana. The Pixies are still my favorite of those bands. Got to see Nirvana and the Pixies in concert and I also got to see Bob Mould on his first solo tour (Workbook). I thought it was going to be like the album (quiet and introspective), but I think he'd changed his approach to playing it live and it was the loudest concert I'd ever been to.
@norbertoluppini7411
Exactly the same. I like this band, but Pixies are the best of all, by far.
@void0094
What an amazing band. Some old bands get rediscovered by younger generations but I feel like that's sadly not the case with Hüsker Dü. They are incredibly influencal.
@ihatejakelol
im pretty young and found them from saints row 1. best discovery ever
@bryannguyen1260
@DishEggs Dude that is fucking nuts though I've yet to play a Saints Row game. I am a youngin and I discovered these guys on some documentary by Trash Theory.
@ihatejakelol
@@bryannguyen1260 good discovery from a documentary then lol