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.

Every Everything
Hüsker Dü Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got something she wants
She's got something I need
Got a lock on my heart
She's got the key

Softly spoken words of love
These are what she said to me
Honey be a man

Get off your knees

Every heartbeat
Every movement
Every moment
Every sigh
Every heartbeat
Every movement
Every moment
Every sigh
Every everything

Something in my heart
Something in my arms
Fell in love with your
Possessive charms

Softly spoken words of love
This is what she said to me
Got a lock on my heart
And she's got the key

Every heartbeat
Every movement
Every moment
Every sigh
Every heartbeat
Every movement
Every moment
Every sigh
Every everything

Whaa, whaa

Every heartbeat
Every movement
Every moment
Every sigh
Every heartbeat
Every movement
Every moment
Every sigh
Every heartbeat
Every movement
Every moment
Every sigh
Every heartbeat
Movement
Moment

Every sigh
Every everything

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hüsker Dü's song Every Everything describe a love without independence. It's a love where each partner has something the other needs, and they become so dependent on one another that they are like two halves of a whole. The imagery of a lock and key further emphasize the idea of being trapped within this kind of love. Softly spoken words of love in the song add to the romantic feel but also reveal the possessive nature of the relationship. The phrase "Honey be a man / Get off your knees" implies that one partner is controlling the other and wants them to be more dominant in their relationship. Despite the negative connotations, the song conveys an intense and passionate love.

The repetition of "Every heartbeat, every movement, every moment, every sigh, every everything" serves as a reminder of how intertwined the two partners are with each other. It represents a desire to be together all the time, constantly feeling each other's presence, and being deeply connected. The phrase "Something in my heart, something in my arms" reveals the physical aspect of the relationship, and the phrase "Possessive charms" further emphasizes the idea of possession in the relationship.

Overall, the lyrics of Hüsker Dü's song Every Everything describe a deep and passionate love, but at the same time, it portrays the possessive and controlling nature of the relationship. It conveys the idea that love, when taken to the extreme, can become toxic and suffocating.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got something she wants
The singer possesses something the person they are addressing desires.

She's got something I need
The person the singer is addressing has something the singer requires.

Got a lock on my heart
The singer's heart is guarded or protected, possibly due to past experiences.

She's got the key
The person the artist is addressing holds the means to unlock the artist's guarded heart.

Softly spoken words of love
The person the artist is addressing has expressed their love in a tender manner.

These are what she said to me
The singer received these kind words from the person they are addressing.

Honey be a man
The person the singer is addressing is encouraging the singer to be brave and assertive.

Get off your knees
The person the artist is addressing may be urging the artist to stop begging or pleading.

Every heartbeat
Each beat of the artist's heart.

Every movement
Each action or motion the artist makes.

Every moment
Each passing second or instance of time.

Every sigh
Each deep breath or exhalation.

Every everything
Every single aspect or detail of the singer's existence or experience.

Something in my heart
The singer is feeling a certain emotion or attachment that is centered in their heart.

Something in my arms
The singer may be holding or embracing someone or something they care for deeply.

Fell in love with your possessive charms
The artist has developed romantic feelings for the person they are addressing, despite (or perhaps because of) their possessive personality traits.

Got a lock on my heart
The artist's heart is guarded or protected, possibly due to past experiences.

And she's got the key
The person the singer is addressing holds the means to unlock the singer's guarded heart.

Whaa, whaa
Non-verbal sounds that may be meant to convey frustration, sadness or disappointment.

Every heartbeat
Each beat of the artist's heart.

Every movement
Each action or motion the artist makes.

Every moment
Each passing second or instance of time.

Every sigh
Each deep breath or exhalation.

Every heartbeat
Each beat of the artist's heart.

Every movement
Each action or motion the singer makes.

Every moment
Each passing second or instance of time.

Every sigh
Each deep breath or exhalation.

Every heartbeat
Each beat of the artist's heart.