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.
Turn It Around
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything to make you feel all right (turn it around)
Is anything working? (turn it around)
Several times I've died inside
And then I see you get uptight (turn it around)
We gotta get back, turn it around
Well, I've got time on my side (turn it around)
Now it's only time
To decide which side you're on
We've tried everything in sight (turn it around)
To make it turn out all right (turn it around)
Now is the only time
Now is the only time
Now it's time to try to turn it around
Several times I've wished
That everything would slip into a void (turn it around)
Does it even matter now? (turn it around)
It's time to figure out
The things we want, and things that we'll avoid (turn it around)
We gotta get back, turn it around
Well, I don't grab for straws anymore (turn it around)
And you don't sink your claws anymore (turn it around)
But the more I think
The less I really know about myself
We gotta turn it around (turn it around)
Before it goes into the ground (turn it around)
Now is the only time
Now is the only time
Now's the time to try to turn it around
Several times
Tried to turn it around
Several ways
Tried to turn it around
(Turn it around)
(Turn it around)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Turn it around)
(Turn it around)
(Turn it around)
(Turn it around)
(Turn it around)
(Turn it around)
(No-ow)
(No-ow)
There's several morals and there's several plays
Several parts that anyone can try
Oh, it's enough to make you cry
Well, I may not think that I'm right
But I know the things I've got
Are gonna turn out all right
We gotta get back, turn it around
Well, I may not be anything
And you might be the biggest thing
The biggest thing to me
Is making this thing work for life
We gotta turn it around
Before it goes into the ground
And now is the only time
Now is the only time
Now it's the time to try to turn it around
Several times
Tried to turn it around
Several ways
Tried to turn it around
Several times
Tried to turn it around
Several ways
Tried to turn it around
The song "Turn It Around" by Hüsker Dü is about a relationship that is not going well and the frustration and desperation that comes with trying to fix it. The singer of the song has tried "everything" to make their partner feel better but nothing seems to be working. They have even "died inside" several times as a result of the relationship. The chorus "We gotta get back, turn it around" expresses the desire to turn things around and make the relationship work again.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of time in the relationship. Despite having tried everything, the singer acknowledges that time is the only factor that can decide the fate of the relationship. They urge their partner to figure out what they want and what they want to avoid in order to move forward. The bridge of the song is an introspective moment for the singer, as they realize that the more they think about themselves, the less they know. They express the need to turn things around before "it goes into the ground" and to make the relationship work for life.
Overall, "Turn It Around" is a song that expresses the struggle of trying to save a failing relationship and the importance of taking action before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Several times I've tried
I have put in a lot of effort, numerous occasions
Everything to make you feel all right (turn it around)
I have done everything in my power to make you happy, but the situation needs to be reversed
Is anything working? (turn it around)
I'm not seeing any positive results, we have to change something
Several times I've died inside
I have suffered emotionally a number of times
And then I see you get uptight (turn it around)
I feel bad seeing you upset, so we need to make things better
We gotta get back, turn it around
We need to fix the problem and make things right again
Well, I've got time on my side (turn it around)
I am willing to be patient and work on this problem
And you've got time on your side (turn it around)
There is no hurry, we can take the time we need to sort things out
Now it's only time
Time is the only thing that matters right now
To decide which side you're on
We need to figure out our positions and work together to solve the problem
We've tried everything in sight (turn it around)
We have exhausted all our options, but we still need to fix things
To make it turn out all right (turn it around)
We have done everything to try to make this situation okay, but we need to make changes to turn the situation around
Now is the only time
The present is the only moment we have to make things work
Now it's time to try to turn it around
We must take action now and reverse the situation
Several times I've wished
I have hoped many times
That everything would slip into a void (turn it around)
I wanted everything to go away or disappear, but that is not a solution
Does it even matter now? (turn it around)
I am questioning whether the situation still holds importance, but I know it does
It's time to figure out
The moment has come to decide
The things we want, and things that we'll avoid (turn it around)
We need to set clear goals and avoid anything that will be detrimental
Well, I don't grab for straws anymore (turn it around)
I don't want to cling to unrealistic hopes or solutions anymore
And you don't sink your claws anymore (turn it around)
You are willing to let go of controlling this situation and trying to manipulate it to your advantage
But the more I think
The more I reflect on this issue
The less I really know about myself
I realize that I have more to learn about myself and how to handle these types of situations
We gotta turn it around (turn it around)
We need to make a joint effort to make things better
Before it goes into the ground (turn it around)
Before it's too late and irreversible damage is done
There's several morals and there's several plays
There are different lessons to be learned and different ways to handle this situation
Several parts that anyone can try
There are different approaches that anyone can attempt
Oh, it's enough to make you cry
This issue can be very upsetting and overwhelming
Well, I may not think that I'm right
I'm open to the possibility that my ideas and solutions may not be the best for this situation
But I know the things I've got
I trust that I have the skills and resources to contribute positively to the solution
Are gonna turn out all right
We can resolve this issue and things will be okay
Well, I may not be anything
I may not be highly successful or have everything figured out
And you might be the biggest thing
You may be highly successful and accomplished
The biggest thing to me
What matters most is that we work together to resolve this problem
Is making this thing work for life
Our relationship is more important than any disagreement we may have
Several times
Many instances
Tried to turn it around
Attempted to reverse the situation
Several ways
Different approaches
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB MOULD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind