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.
Don t Want To Know If You Are Lonely
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I keep my distance but that distance is too far
It reassures me just to know that you're okay
But I don't want you to go on needing me this way
And I don't want to know if you are lonely
Don't want to know if you are less than lonely
Don't want to know if you are lonely
The day you left me, left me feeling oh so bad
Still I'm not sure about all the doubts we had
From the beginning we both knew it wouldn't last
Decisions have been made the die has been cast
The phone is ringing and the clock says four A.M.
If it's your friends, well I don't want to hear from them
Please leave your number and a message at the tone
Or you can just go on and leave me alone
The lyrics to Husker Du's song "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" deal with the themes of distance, reassurance, and ambiguity. The singer is curious about the state of the person they are addressing - "I'm curious to know exactly how you are" - but they also acknowledge that they "keep [their] distance." This distance is too far, indicating that the singer is unable to bridge the emotional gulf between them and the other person. The singer wants to know that the other person is okay, but is reluctant to become too entangled in their lives. The repetition of the phrase "Don't want to know if you are lonely" suggests that the singer is actively attempting to maintain a sense of detachment.
The second verse continues to explore the singer's ambivalent feelings. The day the other person left him, he felt bad, implying that their separation may have been traumatic. However, he is still not sure about the "doubts we had," suggesting that the relationship may not have been as stable or secure as he would have liked. Ultimately, the singer seems resigned to their separation: "Decisions have been made the die has been cast." The final lines of the song - "Please leave your number and a message at the tone / Or you can just go on and leave me alone" - reinforce the theme of emotional distance, with the singer indicating that they would prefer not to engage with the other person at all.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm curious to know exactly how you are
I want to know your state of mind and emotions so I can assess the state of our relationship
I keep my distance but that distance is too far
I try to keep a safe emotional distance, but it's becoming too great and I am losing touch
It reassures me just to know that you're okay
Hearing that you're okay gives me comfort and relieves some of my anxiety
But I don't want you to go on needing me this way
I don't want you to solely rely on me for your happiness, it's too much pressure
And I don't want to know if you are lonely
I don't want to know if you are unhappy, as it would make me feel guilty and responsible for your feelings
Don't want to know if you are less than lonely
I don't want to know if you are only slightly unhappy, as it would still make me feel responsible
The day you left me, left me feeling oh so bad
Your departure left me with negative emotions, a sense of incompleteness, and sadness
Still I'm not sure about all the doubts we had
Despite feeling this way, I'm still unsure and questioning the underlying problems in our relationship
From the beginning we both knew it wouldn't last
We both recognized that our relationship was likely to fail from the outset
Decisions have been made the die has been cast
We've made decisions and chosen our paths, it's too late to change them now
The phone is ringing and the clock says four A.M.
It's very late and the phone is ringing, creating feelings of anxiety and dread
If it's your friends, well I don't want to hear from them
I don't want to hear about you from other people, especially not mutual friends
Please leave your number and a message at the tone
If you need to contact me, please leave a message and I'll respond at my convenience
Or you can just go on and leave me alone
If you don't want to leave a message, that's fine too. Either way, I need some space and solitude
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRANT VERNON HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimwrenn5720
I’m 60, listened to every alternative band back in the day, thought I’d heard all the best of them. So how in the world did I miss this great great great band?
That sound? Me, kicking my own ass.
@FederalEmployee
Don't worry! You're here now! :) I'm sure you have experiences under your belt that would kick us younger folks asses.
Couple great experiences for me was seeing David Byrne live and recently Original Misfits with Danzig, Jerry, Doyle and Dave Lombardo drumming.
25 today in beautiful 2020, never thought I'd see that in my lifetime!
@nataliemillinoff3827
Bob Mould did solo albums also!
@panchovila3660
Jim Wrenn we had Canadian mtv on public airwaves Fresno Ca
@johnarvai8509
Workbook...just saying
@kathydavidson7824
I haven’t heard this since the ‘90s. There was an Alt Rock station in Philly back then that played this. A lost gem, for sure!
@oskorei123
R.I.P. Grant Hart. You wrote some amazing music that will continue to encourage, inspire, and entertain forever. You were one of the best and will be missed everyday.
@dianeblair3885
Our Minneapolis Power Trio! Grant’s lyrics, Bob’s power wall of sound and Greg’s bass
energy! Thanks for your great contributions!
@nikolakaravida9670
Candy Apple Grey was ahead of its time. Husker Du definitely shaped this style of music for the bands in the 90s.
@matthewfeatherston8982
Definitely one of the most underrated bands of all time!!!