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.
Visionary
Hüsker Dü Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing cards, listen, master
Pointed gun, aim to please
No one talking, no one sees
Take a stand and collect
The images and imageless
Think in rhymes every time
Someone was a friend of mine
A visionary in a cage in Londonderry
A visionary, foggiest notion, visionary
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
Strip away the silver and the gold
Just torn-up stories in your cage
Never time to be a sage
You're so sublime
Growing old before your time
A visionary in a cage in Londonderry
A visionary, foggiest notion, visionary
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
Strip away the silver and the gold
A visionary, oh, oh, oh, Londonderry
A visionary, foggiest notion, visionary
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
A visionary, oh, oh, oh
The lyrics to Hüsker Dü's "Visionary" speak to a sense of confinement and frustration. The beginning lines paint a picture of frenzied activity, with someone pedaling frantically while playing cards and trying to master some skill. However, this sense of purpose quickly deteriorates into aimlessness and desperation, as the lyrics describe a pointed gun and a sense that no one is seeing or talking. The chorus revolves around the idea of a "visionary" being trapped in a cage in Londonderry, with an unclear notion of what this person represents or what they are struggling against.
Throughout the song, there is a sense that something is being hidden or obscured. The references to images and imageless, torn-up stories, and the stripping away of silver and gold all suggest that there is a deeper truth or meaning that is being concealed. The repeated chorus of "oh, oh, oh" has a haunting quality, with the sense that the singer is trying to express something that is beyond language or comprehension.
The references to Londonderry suggest that the song may be speaking specifically to the political and social conflicts that have characterized that city for decades. However, the larger themes of confinement, frustration, and the struggle for meaning are universal and speak to the human condition more broadly.
Line by Line Meaning
Panhandle, pedal faster
Rush ahead with great urgency, relying on street donations to make a living
Playing cards, listen, master
Sharpening one's abilities by intently listening and becoming a master in a skill or game
Pointed gun, aim to please
Willingly complying out of fear or desire to satisfy someone else's needs and desires
No one talking, no one sees
An environment of silence and invisibility where no one is willing or able to communicate
Take a stand and collect
Be bold and assertive in order to accumulate possessions or esteem
The images and imageless
Both tangible and intangible aspects of life are significant, requiring contemplation and appreciation
Think in rhymes every time
Repeating a distinct thought pattern, perhaps in order to provide comfort or inspiration
Someone was a friend of mine
Acknowledging someone who was once an ally or companion in a caring or nostalgic way
A visionary in a cage in Londonderry
A person with great foresight and creativity who is trapped and limited in their movement and expression
A visionary, foggiest notion, visionary
A leader with an uncertain, unclear idea of their mission or goal who is still regarded with admiration and respect
Strip away the silver and the gold
Removing material wealth and possessions to reveal the true essence of a person
Just torn-up stories in your cage
Broken or fragmented memories and experiences held in confinement
Never time to be a sage
Never having the opportunity to attain wisdom or become a respected authority figure
You're so sublime
You possess a unique and radiant quality that inspires or elevates those around you
Growing old before your time
Suffering from the fatigue and exhaustion usually associated with advancing age even if you are young
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB MOULD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind