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
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
The song "Could You Be The One" by Hüsker Dü is a contemplative piece about a search for love and meaning in life. The lyrics suggest a sense of confusion and frustration about not knowing what one is looking for or why they are doing so. The opening lines ask whether the person being addressed could be the one that people talk about, someone who is hiding behind another door. The following lines further convey the confusion about what one wants in life, and whether the pursuit of happiness or any other feeling matters anymore.
The repeated phrase "Could you be the one" and the lyrics of the song indicate an underlying search for love and purpose. The singer seems to be searching for someone who can truly understand and connect with them. However, the feelings of uncertainty and confusion remain, as the singer doesn't know what they are really looking for or what they are hiding and crying for. The song ends with a plea for someone to be the only broken-hearted one, suggesting that the search for love and meaning is not an easy one.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you be the one they talk about?
Are you the person that people are referring to?
Hiding inside, behind another door?
Are you concealing yourself behind something or someone else?
Is it only happiness you want?
Are you solely seeking joy?
Does wanting a feeling matter any more?
Has the pursuit of emotions become insignificant?
It doesn't mean that much to me
I don't attach much significance to it
Sometimes I don't mean that much to you
Occasionally, you don't value me very much
And I don't even know what I'm hiding for
I'm unsure why I'm keeping something hidden
And I don't even know what I'm crying for
I'm unaware of the reason for my tears
Could you be the one they talk about?
Are you the person that people are referring to?
Life is a game that only you can make
Your life is a game that you're solely responsible for shaping
Maybe I'm about to throw it out
Perhaps I'm getting rid of it
I've given it all, that's all I can take
I have exhausted all my resources, leaving me to abandon it
Could you be the one
Are you the one?
Could you be the one
Could you be that person?
Could you be the one that's hanging all around
Are you that person who is constantly present?
Don't even know what I'm hiding for
I'm not sure why I'm keeping something hidden
Don't even know what I'm crying for
I'm unsure of the reason for my tears
Don't even know, could you be the only
I'm not certain, maybe you're the sole one
Broken hearted one
The person with a wounded heart
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