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.
Keep Hanging On
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And poets have all the words
The earth belongs to the two of us
And the sky belongs to the birds
You've given me so much happiness
That I'll wrap up and give you this song
You gotta grab it with both hands
Gotta keep hanging on
You gotta keep hanging on
You gotta keep,
You gotta keep hanging on
The cat walks to the window
And I hear the key turn in the door
No one knows and anything goes
And everything falls on the floor
The apartment starts shaking
And the roof opens up to the sun
The crows flying in parallel lines
And ah ah ah
You gotta keep hanging on
You gotta keep hanging on
Hanging on, keep hanging on
Ah ah ah
Laying in each other's arms
We're sleepy, we begin to nod
And we start to dream of grandiose things
Oh God, oh God, oh God
You gotta keep hanging on
You gotta keep hanging on
You gotta keep hang, hang, hang, hang, hang, hanging on
You gotta keep hanging on
You gotta keep hanging on
You gotta keep
Ah ah ah
The opening lines of Hüsker Dü's "Keep Hanging On" reveal a theme that will run throughout the song: the idealization of artists and their work. As the lyrics state, "only angels have wings" and "poets have all the words." This emphasis on the heightened status of creative types serves to elevate both the singer and their romantic partner, positioning them both as special and unique. Furthermore, the song reinforces the idea that artists have a special connection to and ownership of the natural world, as evidenced by the line "the earth belongs to the two of us / and the sky belongs to the birds."
Throughout the rest of the song, the lyrics focus on the joy and intensity of the romantic relationship being described. The couple is clearly deeply in love, so much so that the singer feels compelled to give their partner a song as a gift. However, even in the midst of this bliss, there are hints that not all is perfect. The line "no one knows and anything goes / and everything falls on the floor" suggests a certain degree of wildness or chaos, while the image of the "apartment shaking" and the "roof opening up to the sun" implies a loss of control, perhaps even a sense of danger. Nonetheless, the refrain insists that one must "keep hanging on" in the face of whatever challenges present themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Only angels have wings, girl
No one is perfect or invincible, except maybe angels.
And poets have all the words
Poets have the ability to express themselves through words, to convey deep feelings and meaning.
The earth belongs to the two of us
We share the earth and should take care of it together.
And the sky belongs to the birds
We may have dominion over the earth, but the sky and its inhabitants, such as birds, are free and have their own place in the world.
You've given me so much happiness
The artist is grateful for their partner and the joy they bring to their life.
That I'll wrap up and give you this song
The singer is expressing their love and appreciation through music.
You gotta grab it with both hands
Don't waste this opportunity, hold onto it with everything you have.
You gotta keep hanging on
Hold on to what we have, don't give up.
The cat walks to the window
A mundane moment of everyday life, suggesting a comfortable domestic setting.
And I hear the key turn in the door
Someone is coming home, introducing an element of uncertainty and change.
No one knows and anything goes
Life is unpredictable, and anything could happen.
And everything falls on the floor
Things can quickly turn chaotic, and plans can fall apart.
The apartment starts shaking
An earthquake or other event begins to occur, creating a sense of danger and insecurity.
And the roof opens up to the sun
A possible interpretation is that the walls come tumbling down, exposing us to the outside world and its unpredictability.
The crows flying in parallel lines
A surreal image with various interpretations - perhaps the crows represent death, chaos or loss.
Laying in each other's arms
Comfort, safety and stability in the embrace of another person.
We're sleepy, we begin to nod
The couple are starting to drift into sleep, indicating the end of the day or a sense of peacefulness.
And we start to dream of grandiose things
The couple have aspirations and high hopes for the future, even as they fall asleep together.
You gotta keep hang, hang, hang, hang, hang, hanging on
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the importance of holding on and not letting go of what is important in life.
Ah ah ah
A non-verbal, musical expression of the emotions and sensations suggested by the lyrics.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GRANT VERNON HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind