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.
Tell You Why Tomorrow
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
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The days go floating by so slowly in a blur
I read the numbers and I discard everyone
I burn my fingers on the pages of the sun
I'll tell you why tomorrow
Moonlight pulling all the water to the beaches
Turn it upside down and count the spilling sand
Seize the moment with a minute hand
I'll tell you why tomorrow
Men and animals are floating through the sky
Every month or so a new one passes by
Forming circles 'round the planets in the air
Find a newspaper and it is printed there
I'll tell you why tomorrow
The lyrics of the song Tell You Why Tomorrow by Hüsker Dü may seem cryptic at first glance, but they contain a message about the passing of time and the urgency of living in the present moment. The opening lines "I see the sun and I see the calendar, the days go floating by so slowly in a blur" convey a feeling of ennui and detachment from the routine of daily life. The singer reveals his apathy towards the passing of time and the meaningless numbers that accompany it, expressed in the line "I read the numbers and I discard everyone". The image of burning his fingers on the pages of the sun suggests that the passage of time is a painful experience that he would rather avoid.
The chorus of the song, "I'll tell you why tomorrow", reflects the procrastination and avoidance that the singer is experiencing. He doesn't want to confront the harsh realities of life and instead chooses to put them off until tomorrow, perpetuating the cycle of inaction and boredom.
The second verse of the song continues this theme, with the metaphor of the moonlight pulling all the water to the beaches signifying the cyclical nature of life and the constant ebb and flow of time. The suggestion to "seize the moment with a minute hand" implies that the singer wants to take control of his life and live in the present moment, rather than allowing time to slip away.
Overall, Hüsker Dü's Tell You Why Tomorrow is a poignant reflection on the human experience of time and the importance of living in the moment, rather than putting things off until an uncertain tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the sun and I see the calendar
I observe the sun and the calendar with a sense of detachment
The days go floating by so slowly in a blur
The passage of time is gradual, hazy and dull
I read the numbers and I discard everyone
I peruse the digits but disregard their significance
I burn my fingers on the pages of the sun
I attempt to grasp something unattainable and end up hurting myself
I'll tell you why tomorrow
I'm evasive and indecisive with my reasoning
Moonlight pulling all the water to the beaches
The moon's pull controls the tides and affects everything around it
Soaking time into everything that it reaches
Time seeps into and impacts everything it touches
Turn it upside down and count the spilling sand
Analyzing something from a different perspective can reveal its true nature
Seize the moment with a minute hand
Take advantage of opportunities in the present moment
Men and animals are floating through the sky
Living beings are transient and ethereal in nature
Every month or so a new one passes by
Change is a constant in life, and it is frequent
Forming circles 'round the planets in the air
Celestial bodies move in predictable or cyclical patterns
Find a newspaper and it is printed there
Truths can be found in reliable sources that report the facts
I'll tell you why tomorrow
I'm still not forthcoming with my explanation
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lindsaywakefield3558
R.I.P. Mr.Hart.