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.
She Floated Away
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her own force of will to her mother's surprise
A whole look about her that says that she may
She lifted her arms and she floated away
She floated away, yeah, she floated away
She lifted her arms and she floated away
She don't give a damn what the other girls say
"Let me talk to you, mother," she tried to confess
"Go ahead, honey and wear the white dress
Don't let traditions go stand in your way"
She lifted her arms and she floated away
She floated away, yeah, she floated away
She lifted her arms and she floated away
Don't give a damn what the other girls say
She lifted her arms and she floated away
Well, a man has two reasons for things that he does
The first one is pride and the second one is love
All understandings must come by this way
She lifted her arms and she floated away
She floated away, yeah, she floated away
She lifted her arms and she floated away
She don't give a damn what the other girls say
She lifted her arms and she floated away
The lyrics to Hüsker Dü's song She Floated Away are about a woman who is breaking free from societal expectations and norms. The opening lines "With her grandmother's face and her father's brown eyes, Her own force of will to her mother's surprise" suggests that this woman has a mix of heritage and personality traits that may conflict with the expectations placed upon her. The line "A whole look about her that says that she may" implies that she carries a rebellious energy that suggests she may be breaking free soon. When she lifts her arms and floats away, this is a symbolic representation of her leaving behind the expectations placed upon her.
The lyrics suggest that the woman is trying to communicate with her mother about breaking free but is met with resistance in the form of "traditions." "Let me talk to you, mother," she tried to confess, "Go ahead, honey and wear the white dress. Don't let traditions go stand in your way." These traditions may refer to the traditional roles placed on women, such as marriage or having children. By the end of the song, when the lyrics state "Well, a man has two reasons for things that he does, The first one is pride and the second one is love. All understandings must come by this way," it implies that perhaps men are given more freedom to make their own choices, especially in terms of love, while women are expected to conform.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a woman breaking free and asserting her independence despite the traditional expectations placed upon her.
Line by Line Meaning
With her grandmother's face and her father's brown eyes
Her physical appearance is a combination of traits inherited from her father and grandmother
Her own force of will to her mother's surprise
Her mother is surprised by her daughter's strong will and determination
A whole look about her that says that she may
Her appearance suggests she has potential or ability to do great things
She lifted her arms and she floated away
She metaphorically 'floated away' from societal expectations and limitations
Let me talk to you, mother, she tried to confess
She attempted to have a conversation with her mother about her desires
Go ahead, honey and wear the white dress
Her mother supports her choice to break tradition and wear a white dress
Don't let traditions go stand in your way
She encourages herself and others to not be held back by traditional expectations
Well, a man has two reasons for things that he does
The male perspective is being introduced, suggesting that men have two motivations - pride and love
The first one is pride and the second one is love
The two motivations are identified as pride and love, in order of importance
All understandings must come by this way
The male perspective presented earlier should be considered in order to reach a complete understanding
She don't give a damn what the other girls say
She is not concerned with the opinions of others or societal pressures
She lifted her arms and she floated away
The metaphor of 'floating away' is repeated, emphasizing her determination to break free
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRANT VERNON HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sadslavboy
had a longtime GF who dealt with undiagnosed mental illnesses the whole time we dated. She was the first person I loved. She attempted suicide several times. It was chaotic and while I'm happy that relationship is behind me, I still find myself thinking about her. This song speaks to me and really reminds me of her. "She floated away" to me gives a dual feeling to me. The pain of helping her live through her darkest times and my hope that she is doing better now with her life. I hope she floated away from her illness and made her life better. Husker Du are such a great band
@etamommy
Nice to hear someone think and speak compassionately. I hope so too.
@arcangelolonoce2911
This band was many things, among the many things they were, they surely were magic. There is something ancestral and timeless in their music, and this song, like many others of theirs, could have existed since ever and for ever.
@trecedijete
I feel the same, but I think it is mostly Grant Hart's contribution - the magic.
@PureSalemGuitars
The perfect song !!! Great lyrics and guitar playing. I love the keyboards at the end. This album changed my life.
@alexnapad
one of my favorite from them. saw them at umass amherst on this tour when they played the tracks of this album in order. I understand the disappointment of some, but I loved that show. they were at full power.
@ellemjay
I want this song played at my funeral
@denisesutcliffe6224
She don't give a damn what the other girls say
She lifted her arms and she floated away....R.I.P Sian, 16 years too young to leave us 💔
@Frankincensedjb123
Great album. Few know about it or the band, but many bands have been influenced by Husker Du. Great stuff.
@keithbate9405
sad to hear about the passing of Grant Hart this morning (15.9.17) His body of work with Husker Du and his underrated solo material will live on as a tribute to him