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.
It's Not Fair
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're living in a dream
Could you care enough while pausing on a thought?
Can you think of what you've got? (only you know what matters in your life)
When it's pouring out, you're pondering inside
And all the times you shouted, everybody cried
You've got to learn to compromise
It's not peculiar, there's nothing to devise at all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
On a stormy night, you're sitting on the floor
Is it nothing anymore?
Waking up to fix it, making up the fight
Will there be one more tonight? (some things we said will never wash away)
Taking all of this into another day
Recollections of the words we used to say
The times you looked into my eyes
Whispered vowing not to lie
It's not peculiar, there's nothing to devise at all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
Hear the telephone, it's raining in the fall
And you hope I never call
Sending messages that never get received
But we're trying, I believe (sometimes we wonder what our lives are for)
Taking all of this is taking all of me
Sometimes I wish I had the energy
When it falls apart like fragments of our lives
Give a little bit, and give a lot to die
It's not peculiar, there's nothing to devise at all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
At all, all right
At all
The lyrics to Hüsker Dü's song "It's Not Fair" explore themes of introspection, empathy, and the complexities of relationships. The verses touch upon the notion of life being a dream and the need to pause and reflect on what truly matters. The lyrics question whether it is sensible to view life as it appears on the surface and emphasize the importance of caring and considering one's own personal values.
The song also delves into the challenges of communication and compromise within relationships. It discusses the emotional impact of shouting and the resulting sadness experienced by others. The lyrics suggest that in order to truly live in harmony with others, one must learn to compromise and understand their perspectives. This aligns with the notion that living inside the lives of others requires a level of empathy and openness.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "It's not peculiar, there's nothing to devise at all," highlighting the idea that the complexities of life and relationships are not unique or insurmountable. Instead, the lyrics suggest that by recognizing and accepting these complexities, one can navigate through them with a sense of understanding and ease.
Overall, "It's Not Fair" encourages listeners to contemplate the value of introspection, empathy, compromise, and understanding in their own lives and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it sensible, life is what it seems
Is it logical to believe that life is exactly as it appears?
When you're living in a dream
When you're feeling disconnected from reality
Could you care enough while pausing on a thought?
Can you show enough concern by contemplating deeply?
Can you think of what you've got?
Can you appreciate what you possess?
When it's pouring out, you're pondering inside
When your emotions are overflowing, you're reflecting internally
And all the times you shouted, everybody cried
And every instance you raised your voice, it caused sorrow for others
You've got to learn to compromise
You must understand the importance of reaching a middle ground
To live inside the others' lives
To experience the perspective of others and empathize with them
It's not peculiar, there's nothing to devise at all, all right
It's not strange, there's nothing to devise or plan, everything is fine
At all, all right
Overall, everything is satisfactory
On a stormy night, you're sitting on the floor
During a turbulent night, you find yourself seated on the ground
Is it nothing anymore?
Does it hold no significance anymore?
Waking up to fix it, making up the fight
Rising to address the issue, reconciling the conflict
Will there be one more tonight?
Will there be another argument or disagreement tonight?
Taking all of this into another day
Carrying all these emotions and experiences into a new day
Recollections of the words we used to say
Remembering the things we used to say to each other
The times you looked into my eyes
The moments when you gazed into my eyes
Whispered vowing not to lie
Softly promising to always tell the truth
Hear the telephone, it's raining in the fall
Hear the sound of the telephone ringing, while rain falls during autumn
And you hope I never call
And you desire that I never reach out or contact you
Sending messages that never get received
Sending messages that are never received or understood
But we're trying, I believe
But we're making an effort, I have faith in that
Taking all of this is taking all of me
Dealing with all of these challenges is consuming all of my energy
Sometimes I wish I had the energy
Occasionally, I desire to have more strength and vitality
When it falls apart like fragments of our lives
When it collapses like shattered pieces of our existence
Give a little bit, and give a lot to die
Offer a small portion, and give a significant amount in order to end this suffering
At all, all right
Overall, everything is satisfactory
At all, all right
Overall, everything is satisfactory
At all, all right
Overall, everything is satisfactory
At all, all right
Overall, everything is satisfactory
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB MOULD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind