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.
Sorry Somehow
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
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Time hurts and time can cut you, cut you down to size
There's no need to touch you now, no, I'm doing fine
Life too can cut you and I've cut you out of mine
You're making me...
Sorry, sorry somehow
Sorry, sorry somehow
There's no need to talk to you, well to know what's on your mind
There's no need to see you either, no, I'm just being kind
You want me to beg forgiveness, tender an apology
It's not my fault and you're not getting one from me
Now I guess it's your decision now you decide
Take me to the cleaners baby, take me for a ride
Who ever cares for your affairs will sort it out for you
Send me a subpoena baby tell me what to do
I don't have to think about you, think about the past
Those days stand out in my mind and those days were the last
I know the time is coming and I'm waiting for the day
I'd give you everything in the world just to get it out of the way
The lyrics of Hüsker Dü's "Sorry Somehow" speak to the pain and difficulty of moving on after a relationship ends. The lines "Time heals, time goes on and time really flies / Time hurts and time can cut you, cut you down to size" describe the passage of time as simultaneously healing and hurtful. The singer acknowledges that they don't need to be in contact with their former partner, and that they have moved on, saying, "There's no need to touch you now, no, I'm doing fine / Life too can cut you and I've cut you out of mine."
However, the chorus reveals that the singer still experiences lingering feelings of guilt or regret, singing "You're making me sorry, sorry somehow." The second verse continues to assert the singer's distance from their former partner, claiming they don't need to know what's on their mind or see them again. When their ex asks for forgiveness, the singer firmly refuses, stating "It's not my fault and you're not getting one from me."
The bridge sees the singer relinquishing control, with lines like "Now I guess it's your decision now you decide / Take me to the cleaners baby, take me for a ride" giving the impression that the singer is tired of the back and forth and just wants resolution. The final lines suggest that the singer is looking forward to a future where they no longer have to think about their ex or the past, saying "I know the time is coming and I'm waiting for the day / I'd give you everything in the world just to get it out of the way."
Overall, "Sorry Somehow" is a complex meditation on the conflicting emotions that can arise after a breakup - the desire to move on, the residual guilt or regret, and the frustration of still being entangled with an ex-lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Time heals, time goes on and time really flies
The passage of time can bring relief, but it also moves quickly and can be painful.
Time hurts and time can cut you, cut you down to size
Time can also be cruel and make you feel small and insignificant.
There's no need to touch you now, no, I'm doing fine
I don't need to have any contact with you because I'm doing well without you.
Life too can cut you and I've cut you out of mine
Life itself can be tough, and I've made the decision to remove you from my life.
You're making me...
Sorry, sorry somehow
Sorry, sorry somehow
You are making me feel guilty, even though I have nothing to apologize for.
There's no need to talk to you, well to know what's on your mind
I can guess what you are thinking without needing to talk to you directly.
There's no need to see you either, no, I'm just being kind
I don't need to see you to know how you feel, but I'm trying to be polite.
You want me to beg forgiveness, tender an apology
You are hoping that I will ask for your forgiveness and apologize.
It's not my fault and you're not getting one from me
I am not responsible for what happened, and I won't apologize for it.
Now I guess it's your decision now you decide
You have the power to make a choice in this situation, it's all up to you.
Take me to the cleaners baby, take me for a ride
You can try to exploit me or take advantage of me if you want.
Who ever cares for your affairs will sort it out for you
Someone else can take care of your problems for you, I won't be involved.
Send me a subpoena baby tell me what to do
If you need me to do something, you'll have to make it official and legally binding.
I don't have to think about you, think about the past
I am able to move on from you and leave the past behind me.
Those days stand out in my mind and those days were the last
The memories of our time together are still vivid in my mind, but they are also the final ones.
I know the time is coming and I'm waiting for the day
I am aware that there will be a day when I am completely free of this situation, and I am looking forward to it.
I'd give you everything in the world just to get it out of the way
I would do anything to bring closure to this situation and finally move on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRANT VERNON HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind