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.
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're ready to go now they got their surfboards
And they're going to the discotheque Au Go Go
But she just couldn't stay she had to break away
Well New York City really has is all oh yeah, oh yeah
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Well she's a punk punk, a punk rocker
Punk punk a punk rocker
Punk punk a punk rocker
Punk punk a punk rocker
Well the kids are all hopped up and ready to go
They're ready to go now they got their surfboards
And they're going to the discotheque Au Go Go
But she just couldn't stay she had to break away
Well New York City really has is all oh yeah, oh yeah
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Well she's a punk punk, a punk rocker
Punk punk a punk rocker
Punk punk a punk rocker
Punk punk a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker now
The song "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" by Hüsker Dü, is a cover of the original recording by The Ramones. The lyrics talk about a girl named Sheena, who is living the life of a punk rocker. The first verse describes a group of kids who are ready to go out and have some fun - they have their surfboards and are headed to the discotheque. However, Sheena can't stay, she has to break away. The chorus then repeats "Sheena is a punk rocker" several times, emphasizing that punk rock is where Sheena belongs.
The second verse repeats the same lyrics as the first verse, but the chorus changes slightly to "Well she's a punk punk, a punk rocker". The song closes with the chorus repeated three times, each time adding "now" to the end of the line "Sheena is a punk rocker".
The song is a celebration of the punk rock lifestyle and the freedom it represents. Sheena is an example of someone who is living life on her own terms. The repetitive nature of the song's lyrics, particularly the chorus, create a sense of energy and urgency that matches the upbeat tempo of the music. The song is a classic punk rock anthem that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the kids are all hopped up and ready to go
Excited young people are enthusiastic and eager to start their day
They're ready to go now they got their surfboards
Now that they have their surfboards, they are prepared to have a good time
And they're going to the discotheque Au Go Go
They will be attending the Au Go Go nightclub
But she just couldn't stay she had to break away
Although everyone was ready to go, Sheena felt like she needed to leave
Well New York City really has is all oh yeah, oh yeah
New York City has everything anyone could ask for, truly
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena has become part of the punk rock movement
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena has become part of the punk rock movement
Well she's a punk punk, a punk rocker
Sheena completely embodies the punk rock subculture
Punk punk a punk rocker
Sheena is part of the punk scene
Punk punk a punk rocker
Sheena is part of the punk scene
Punk punk a punk rocker
Sheena is part of the punk scene
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena has become part of the punk rock movement
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is someone who's in the punk rock scene
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena has become part of the punk rock movement
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Douglas Colvin, Jeff Hyman, John Cummings, Thomas Erdelyi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind