Herman Dune have worked with several other bands and singers such as Julie Doiron, Leah Hayes, and Laura Hoch.
Although the band has nine official albums, they have worked on many side projects, some of which include Kungen, Ben Haschish, Ben Dope, John Trawlings, Fountain Boats, Satan's Fingers, and Fast Ganz. They have also played as the backing band for recordings by Julie Doiron (ex-Eric's Trip) and Kimya Dawson (ex-Moldy Peaches). Both André and David-Ivar have also released numerous solo CDs (mostly self-released CDRs). André and David-Ivar each contributed a song to the 2006 album by Françoiz Breut, Une Saison Volée.
Official Site: www.hermandune.com
Label: http://www.label-gum.com/collections/hermandune
Discography
Albums
* Turn Off The Light (2000, Prohibited Records)
* They Go To The Woods (2001, Shrimper)
* Switzerland Heritage (2001, Prohibited Records)
* The Whys And The Hows of Herman Düne & Cerberus Shoal (2002, North East Indie)
* Mas Cambios (2003, Track & Field Records)
* Mash Concrete Metal Mushrooms (2003, Shrimper Records)
* Not on Top (2005, Track & Field Records)
* Giant (2006)
* Next Year in Zion (2008)
* Strange Moosic (2011, City Slang)
Not On Top
Herman Düne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feels like I'll never get my shit together
27 and I'm fucked
Well, it's 10 years from teenage
And that's a freaking lot
I think I'm getting old
And I thought I'd never say
That I bought Nevermind
Some fifteen years ago (background: Nevermind was thirteen years ago)
I thought my little sister
Would never ever make it out of high school
And go looking for jobs (yeah right)
Not on top
Baby, I'm not on top
And your love is like a diamond
With a sadistic sick crowd of bastards
Peeping in the bleachers
And there's two men and no team
One is pitching cannonballs
The other is hitting wind
And I've done a lot of training
To try to stick to my positions
Locked up in th attic
Now I'm falling in love with her
And there's 67 better ways
To make some sense (yeah whatever)
Not on top
Baby, I'm not on top
I told you...
The song "Not on Top" by Herman Düne is a reflection of the singer's feelings about his life and where he stands in it. The lyrics are introspective and show a sense of frustration and discontentment about not having achieved enough in life yet, even though he's in his late twenties. He feels like he's getting old, and that he will never get his act together. The reference to buying Nirvana's album "Nevermind" is a reminder of a time when music had a transformative power for him. He also thinks of his sister and reflects on how hard it was for her to graduate high school and find a job. This all serves as a reminder of the difficulties of growing up and the constant feelings of uncertainty and insecurity that come with it.
The second part of the song shifts gears to a more metaphorical view of love and life. The singer compares love to a diamond, shining and valuable. However, it's surrounded by a "sadistic, sick crowd of bastards" who are jeering and judging. This could be a metaphor for society's expectations and the doubts of others that the singer is constantly battling. The two men on the field could represent the singer and his partner, each trying to navigate life in their own way but feeling like they're hitting against the wind. The final lines speak to a sense of hopelessness and a lack of direction, feeling like there are 67 better ways to make sense of things, but not knowing what those are.
Overall, the song speaks to universal feelings of uncertainty and discontentment with one's life, as well as the struggle to find a sense of purpose and direction amidst societal pressure and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel a little strange
I am experiencing some unusual emotional sensation.
Feels like I'll never get my shit together
I feel like I will never be able to get my life organized.
27 and I'm fucked
My current age is 27 and things are not going well for me.
Well, it's 10 years from teenage
It's been a decade since I was a teenager.
And that's a freaking lot
This is quite a significant amount of time.
I think I'm getting old
I believe that I am beginning to age.
And I thought I'd never say
I never thought I would have this feeling or experience.
That I bought Nevermind
It is a surprise to me that I purchased the album Nevermind.
And it changed my life
The album Nevermind had a significant impact on my life.
Some fifteen years ago (background: Nevermind was thirteen years ago)
Around fifteen years ago, which was two years after Nevermind was released.
I thought my little sister
My younger sibling was in my thoughts.
Would never ever make it out of high school
I had doubts that my sister would finish high school.
And go looking for jobs (yeah right)
It seemed unlikely to me that she would start job-hunting.
Not on top
I am not doing very well or achieving success.
Baby, I'm not on top
My dear, I am struggling and not successful.
And your love is like a diamond
Your love is valuable and precious to me.
With a sadistic sick crowd of bastards
There are people who enjoy causing pain around.
Peeping in the bleachers
They are observed from afar, watching secretly.
And there's two men and no team
There are only two people and not enough for a proper team.
One is pitching cannonballs
One person is throwing with great strength and force.
The other is hitting wind
The other is trying to hit something intangible or cannot be hit.
And I've done a lot of training
I have put in a lot of effort into perfecting my skills.
To try to stick to my positions
I am trying my best to remain consistent with my stance and beliefs.
Locked up in th attic
I am locked up and confined in the attic.
Now I'm falling in love with her
I am presently beginning to develop romantic feelings towards someone.
And there's 67 better ways
There are potentially 67 more effective ways to do something.
To make some sense (yeah whatever)
I do not believe any of those 67 ways will effectively make sense of the situation.
I told you...
This is possibly a continuation of the previous line or a segue to the next verse.
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Morgan Noel Whitcraft
How can you NOT like this? It's so simple and relatable to 99% of us, at any given point in our lives.
AKTIMANE
how is life 12 years later? :D i always wonder with these old comments
Mauro do Bichinho Carvalho
Os caras são bons!!!Simplicidade nos equipamentos= Boa música!.
Ghislain Gilberti
I feel a little strange... Leur meilleur album reste le premier, mais j'aime tous ce qu'ils font ces génies du son !
racacala
I love Herman's dance moves :)
Blueprints For Headaches
Greatest song ever written
Roberto Navarro
MUY MUY BUENOS!!!!
Poonabester
I watch his crazy legs as he delivers the line "with a sadistic sick crowd of bastards peeping in the bleachers" and I know I am viewing a profoundly brilliant man
ciscornBIG
This song hits kind of close to home :/ well played herman dune. well played
Mirkka Kallio
This person has seen so much for his age. 27 is like nothing, age is just numbers. 10 years is such a short time. :( He just made me really sad.