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.
Hardly Getting Over It
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
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And I stopped him on the street to ask him
How it went, and all he did was cry
I looked him in the face, but I couldn't see past his eyes
Asked him what the problem was, he says "Here is your disguise"
Now he's hardly getting over it
Hardly getting used to getting by
Old may lays down by the railroad tracks
Got no paper in his pocket, got no paper on his back
I asked him what the time was, he says "Hit the road now, Jack"
Went back to see him next week
He died of a heart attack and died away
Now he's hardly getting over it
Hardly getting used to getting by
Grandma, she got sick, she is going to die
And grandpa had a seizure, moved into a hotel cell and died away
My parents, they just wonder when they both are going to die
And what do I do when they die?
Now I'm hardly getting over it
Hardly getting used to getting by
The song "Hardly Getting Over It" by Hüsker Dü explores the idea of mortality and the inevitability of death. It begins with the singer stopping a friend on the street who is crying, and when he asks what is wrong, the friend responds with "Here is your disguise," implying that the singer is hiding behind some sort of facade or identity. This immediately sets up the idea that we may not really know the people around us and what they are going through.
The second verse then introduces the character of Old May, who is homeless and marginalized, and who tells the singer to "hit the road now, Jack." This interaction highlights the harsh reality of life for some people and the struggle just to survive. The verse ends with the news that Old May died of a heart attack the next week. This sudden death reminds us that life can be unpredictable and that we may not have control over our own fate.
The third verse introduces the singer's grandparents who both pass away, leaving the singer to wonder what he will do when his own parents die. This verse encapsulates the fear of mortality and the idea that death is a part of life that we all must face. The chorus repeats the phrase "hardly getting over it, hardly getting used to getting by," which suggests that even though we may experience loss and grief, we must continue to move forward and keep living.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the need to appreciate our loved ones while we still have them. It also asks us to be more compassionate towards others and to consider the struggles that people may be going through that we cannot see at first glance.
Line by Line Meaning
Twenty years ago, saw a friend was walking by
I saw a friend of mine walking by twenty years ago
And I stopped him on the street to ask him
So I stopped him on the street and asked him
How it went, and all he did was cry
I asked him how he was doing, but he just cried
I looked him in the face, but I couldn't see past his eyes
I tried to look into his eyes, but I couldn't understand what was going on in his mind
Asked him what the problem was, he says 'Here is your disguise'
So I asked him what was wrong, and he said that I was pretending to be someone else
Now he's hardly getting over it
At present, he is barely recovering from it
Hardly getting used to getting by
He is finding it difficult to adapt and survive
Old may lays down by the railroad tracks
There lies old May beside the railway
Got no paper in his pocket, got no paper on his back
He has no money, he is broke
I asked him what the time was, he says 'Hit the road now, Jack'
When I asked him the time, he told me to go away
Went back to see him next week
I went back to see him the following week
He died of a heart attack and died away
He passed away due to a heart attack
Grandma, she got sick, she is going to die
My grandmother got sick, and she will die soon
And grandpa had a seizure, moved into a hotel cell and died away
My grandfather had a seizure, he was moved to a hotel room, and he passed away
My parents, they just wonder when they both are going to die
My parents often think about when they will pass away
And what do I do when they die?
I'm worried about what I'm going to do after they pass away
Now I'm hardly getting over it
At present, I'm barely recovering from it
Hardly getting used to getting by
I'm finding it difficult to adapt and survive
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB MOULD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind