Hüsker Dü was a punk band from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, active from… Read Full Bio ↴Hüsker Dü was a punk band from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, active from 1979 to 1987. The band consisted of Bob Mould (guitars, vocals), Greg Norton (bass) and Grant Hart (1961 – 2017) (drums, vocals). Mould and Hart split the song-writing duties. The band was never widely popular, but had an impact much larger than sales might indicate. "Husker Du" is Danish/Norwegian for "Do You Remember" (also a popular children's game as Hūsker Dū?). Hüsker Dü first gained notice as a hardcore band, with thrashing tempos & screamed vocals, but also with a melodic, soulful edge that became more pronounced in the band's mid-career, as they drifted away from their early sound. They were also a striking trio on stage — far different from the typical hardcore band of the time — with Mould's hulking, doughy presence shouting angrily at stage left, offset by the generally unkempt, long-haired Hart flailing on the drums, and the lanky, good-natured Norton, who sported a waxed handlebar moustache for most of the band's career.

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.

Deadly Skies
Hüsker Dü Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Deadly skies
Deadly night dreams
Well it's no lie
To say what I've seen
I've seen the end
Of the grand scheme
'Cause we all die
By our worst means

I like to protest, but I'm not sure what it's for
I guess I've got no control over the threat of nuclear war
I made a sign to carry to show that I really care
I've heard it does some good if the television people are there

Dead trees, dead leaves, deadly skies

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hüsker Dü's song Deadly Skies are an exploration of the fear and anxiety associated with the threat of nuclear war. The opening lines, "Deadly skies, deadly night dreams, well it's no lie, to say what I've seen," set the apocalyptic tone of the song. The singer describes having seen the end of the grand scheme, implying that he has seen the end of the world. The song goes on to suggest that our own worst impulses will be the cause of this end - "because we all die by our worst means."

The second verse takes a slightly more playful approach, with the singer admitting to feeling somewhat helpless in the face of nuclear annihilation. He likes to protest and show that he cares, but isn't sure what he's protesting for. He acknowledges that he has no control over whether or not a nuclear war happens. The final verse brings the song back to its apocalyptic theme, with the repeated phrase "dead trees, dead leaves, deadly skies" conveying a sense of desolation and hopelessness.

Overall, Deadly Skies is a powerful meditation on the destructive potential of nuclear weapons and the sense of powerlessness that can come with knowing that their use could spell the end of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Deadly skies
The skies are dangerous due to the threat of nuclear war

Deadly night dreams
Even in sleep, the fear of nuclear war haunts the singer

Well it's no lie
The danger of nuclear war is a harsh reality, not a made-up story

To say what I've seen
The singer has witnessed the destructive power of a nuclear attack

I've seen the end
The singer has seen the potential end of the world due to nuclear war

Of the grand scheme
The larger plans and goals of humanity are at risk of being destroyed by nuclear war

'Cause we all die
The consequences of nuclear war are fatal for everyone

By our worst means
Humanity may destroy itself through its own actions and technology

I like to protest, but I'm not sure what it's for
The singer wants to speak out against nuclear war, but feels uncertain about how to make a difference

I guess I've got no control over the threat of nuclear war
The singer feels helpless in the face of nuclear war, as an individual

I made a sign to carry to show that I really care
The singer wants to display their beliefs and feelings through a protest sign

I've heard it does some good if the television people are there
The singer hopes that their protest will gain more attention and make a greater impact if it is covered by the media

Dead trees, dead leaves, deadly skies
The natural world is also affected by the threat of nuclear war, and may suffer irreparable damage

Contributed by Jack D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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