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.

I Don't Know What You're Talking About
Hüsker Dü Lyrics

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You're a student of the world, learning every day
Surrounded by these walls
Tell me, "Man, I've been around the block"
But you haven't seen it all
I don't know, I don't know
I don't know what you're talking about

Confrontations every day

Argue, then we go our separate ways
Always over as soon as it begins
Know that you're losing when you can't give in
I don't know, I don't know
I don't know what you're talking about

Now you live alone and it's always the same
Talking to yourself when you say that I'm to blame
There's more to life than being right and wrong
There's something in between called getting along

I don't know, I don't know
I don't know what you're talking about

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Don't Know What You're Talking About" by Hüsker Dü speak about communication breakdown in relationships. The persona is encountering someone who thinks they know everything about the world, yet they are confined within walls and have not seen it all. The first verse seems to suggest that the person is boastful but ignorant of what exists outside their comfort zones. The persona struggles to relate to this person and ends up saying, "I don't know what you're talking about."

The second verse talks about confrontations that happen every day, and how they end without any conclusive resolution. The persona acknowledges that such disagreements are counterproductive, and it is better to know when to let go. However, the person on the other side is too egotistical to admit defeat, which means nothing productive comes out of the argument.

The final verse suggests that the person on the other end of the conversation has become isolated, blaming the persona for their troubles. The persona acknowledges that life is not always about being right or wrong, but it's about finding the grey areas and compromising. By saying, "I don't know what you're talking about," the persona implies that the other person's stubbornness is making communication impossible.

Overall, the song touches on the theme of the breakdown of communication and how it can lead to isolation and misunderstanding.

Line by Line Meaning

You're a student of the world, learning every day
You have a curious nature and are constantly expanding your knowledge about the world around you.

Surrounded by these walls
However, you seem to be confined by certain limitations, perhaps mental or physical.

Tell me, "Man, I've been around the block"
You claim to have a great deal of experience with something, or a comprehensive understanding of a particular situation.

But you haven't seen it all
However, there are still things that you are not aware of or have yet to experience.

Confrontations every day
You constantly experience conflict or disagreements with others on a daily basis.

Argue, then we go our separate ways
The arguments that you partake in never seem to come to any resolution or agreement, resulting in both parties going their separate ways.

Always over as soon as it begins
These confrontations never last long and are quickly resolved without any true resolution.

Know that you're losing when you can't give in
You are seen as the one losing the argument when you are unable to compromise or admit fault.

Now you live alone and it's always the same
As a result of these conflicts, you find yourself alone and isolated from others.

Talking to yourself when you say that I'm to blame
You are prone to self-talk and often blame others for your current situation, rather than accepting responsibility yourself.

There's more to life than being right and wrong
The world is not just black and white, there is a lot of grey area to consider in every situation.

There's something in between called getting along
It is important to find a middle ground and work towards getting along with others, even if you do not fully agree with them.

I don't know, I don't know
The singer is expressing confusion and uncertainty about the situation or the other person's perspective.

I don't know what you're talking about
The singer is having difficulty understanding or relating to the other person's perspective or experiences.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB MOULD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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