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.

Plans I Make
Hüsker Dü Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I gotta make plans for the plans I make
Gotta have friends for the friends I make
I gotta make plans for the friends I make
Gotta have friends for the plans I make
Go make plans

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of "Plans I Make" by Hüsker Dü are strikingly introspective. The singer seems to be suggesting that they are a planner, someone who needs to have everything in order before they move forward. But it's not just about plans -- it's about the people they make plans with. The repetition of "gotta make plans" and "gotta have friends" highlights the importance of social connection in this person's life. It's almost as if they're saying that they couldn't have one without the other -- the plans they make and the people they make them with are equally valuable.

This theme of interdependence continues throughout the song. The singer seems to acknowledge that their plans and friendships are often fragile, subject to the whims of fate or their own emotional state. The line "why can't we make plans that work?" suggests a frustration with this unpredictability. And yet, there's a sense of hopefulness here too. The final directive to "go make plans" feels like a call to action, an invitation to try again even in the face of uncertainty.

Overall, "Plans I Make" is a complex exploration of how we relate to others and create meaning in our lives. It's a reminder that even the most solitary pursuits are ultimately grounded in connection and community.

Line by Line Meaning

I gotta make plans for the plans I make
I need to plan ahead for the decisions I make.

Gotta have friends for the friends I make
It's important to have good friends that match the quality of the new friends you make.

I gotta make plans for the friends I make
I need to make arrangements for the new friends in my life.

Gotta have friends for the plans I make
Having reliable friends is crucial in ensuring successful plans and projects.

Go make plans
Take action and start planning for the future.

Contributed by Isabelle S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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