Paul Westerberg (born December 31, 1959) is an American musician from Minne… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Westerberg (born December 31, 1959) is an American musician from Minneapolis, best known as the former lead singer and songwriter of The Replacements, one of the seminal alternative rock bands of the 1980s. Since The Replacements broke up in 1991, Westerberg has recorded several solo albums under his own name as well as the moniker Grandpaboy, and written songs for movies including Singles and Open Season. Westerberg has one son.

Mr. Rabbit
Paul Westerberg Lyrics

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mr rabbit, mr rabbit
your coat is mighty grey
yes, bless god it's made that way

every little soul must shine
every little soul must shine

mr rabbit, mr rabbit

your ears are mighty long
yes by god they're put on wrong

every little soul must shine
every little soul must shine

mr rabbit, mr rabbit
you ears are mighty thin
yes bless god, they're splitting the wind

every little soul must shine
every little soul must shine
every little soul must shine
every little soul must shine

mr rabbit, mr rabbit
your eyes are mighty red
yes bless god i'm almost dead

every little soul must shine
every little soul must shine

Overall Meaning

The repetitive and straightforward lyrics of Paul Westerberg's song Mr. Rabbit may seem nonsensical at first, but upon closer inspection, they reveal a profound sense of resignation and detachment. The primary theme of the song centers around the singer's inability to connect with anyone anymore, feeling like they have nothing left to say to anyone.

The opening lines of "Take your diet pills/How many have you got?/I'll kiss you on the cheek/Leave you in the parking lot" is an ambiguous phrase that could be interpreted in many different ways. Some have suggested that the diet pills represent the shallow and superficial nature of modern society, while others believe it alludes to addiction or substance abuse. The lines "I ain't got anything for anyone anymore" and "I ain't got anything to say to anyone anymore" suggest a desolate sense of isolation and detachment, where the singer has nothing left to offer society or anyone they encounter.

The final lines of "You've gotta know/I love you" offer a glimmer of hope amidst the desolation, implying that somewhere deep down, the singer still has love and hope for somebody. Overall, the song can be seen as a critique of modern society's obsession with superficiality and the emptiness that can arise from it.

Line by Line Meaning

All I know, all I know, all I know
This is all that I know, and it's not much.

Take your diet pills
Do what you need to do to cope, even if it's not healthy.

How many have you got?
Are you taking more and more, because it's not working?

I'll kiss you on the cheek
I'll give you a goodbye kiss, but it means nothing.

Leave you in the parking lot
I'm abandoning you here, alone and helpless.

I ain't got anything for anyone anymore
I have nothing to offer or give to anyone in my life.

I ain't got anything to say to anyone anymore
I have no words left, I'm emotionally drained.

You've gotta know
I need to tell you this, even though I can't say anything else.

I love you
Even though I'm leaving, know that I still have love for you.

I ain't got anything to say to anyone anymore
My inability to communicate extends to everyone, not just you.

I ain't got anything to say to anyone anymore
I'm completely spent of my emotional energy.