While Pere Ubu have never been widely popular—usually categorized as "underground rock"—they have a devoted following, have been hugely influential on several generations of avant-garde musicians and are a critically acclaimed American musical group. To define their music, Pere Ubu coined the term Avant Garage to reflect interest in both avant-garde music (especially Musique concrète) and raw, direct garage rock.
When Cleveland-based band Rocket From The Tombs fragmented some members formed Dead Boys, while David Thomas and guitarist Peter Laughner joined with guitarist Tom Herman, bass guitarist Tim Wright, drummer Scott Krauss and synthesist Allen Ravenstine to form Pere Ubu in 1975. At the time the band formed, Herman, Krauss, and Ravenstine lived in a house owned by Ravenstine.
Pere Ubu's first single (their first five releases were singles on their own "Hearthan" label) was "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (inspired by the "Doolittle Raid" and named after a film depicting the raid), backed with "Heart of Darkness"; followed by "Final Solution" in 1976. One review noted that "30 Seconds..." "was clearly the work of a garage band, yet its arty dissonance and weird experimentalism were startlingly unique."
Of their second single, "Final Solution" (backed with "Cloud 149"), one reviewer wrote that Ubu's "call for a 'final solution' was the cry of teen angst run down in the decaying rust belt of America, and unlike the British punks who were looking around England the same year, seeing no future, and hating what they saw, Ubu reveled in it." They would rarely perform this song after some listeners misinterpreted it as being associated with the 'Nazi final solution'.
After "Street Waves", their third single, Pere Ubu signed to Blank Records, a short-lived imprint of Mercury Records.
Laughner left the group after their first two singles, and died soon afterward after a struggle with drug addiction. Tony Maimone signed on as bassist after Tim Wright left to join DNA.
In 1978 they released their debut album, The Modern Dance, which sold poorly but has proven influential. With the song "Sentimental Journey," the debut also introduced the practice of re-appropriating titles from well-known popular songs: Pere Ubu's "Sentimental Journey" has no obvious relation to the Doris Day hit song of the same name; "Drinking Wine Spodyody" has no apparent connection to the Sticks McGhee song (later revived by Jerry Lee Lewis). This practice has continued through 2006's Why I Hate Women, which has a song called "Blue Velvet" (again, no relation to the 1963 hit song by Bobby Vinton).
Special note should be made of Ravenstine's contributions to Pere Ubu. While most synthesizer players tended to play the instrument as they would a piano or organ, Ravenstine generally opted instead to make sounds that were reminiscent of spooky sound effects from 1950s science fiction films, or perhaps electronic music and musique concrète.
Dub Housing was released in 1978 and New Picnic Time in 1979. The group briefly disbanded in 1979, but reformed soon afterward with Tom Herman replaced by Mayo Thompson (of Red Krayola).
The Art of Walking was released in 1980, and by the release of Song of the Bailing Man in 1982, Krauss was replaced by Anton Fier. The group disbanded again soon afterwards; Krauss and Maimone formed Home and Garden, while Thomas worked on a solo career, notably with Richard Thompson and with members of Henry Cow.
By the late 1980s, one of Thomas' solo projects eventually featured much of Pere Ubu. The band was reformed again in 1987, with Jim Jones and Chris Cutler joining for the release of The Tenement Year in 1988, a far more pop-oriented album than ever before. The following year, the track "Waiting for Mary" (off the album 1989 Cloudland) appeared on MTV briefly. After the recording of Cloudland, Ravenstine left the group (although he made a guest appearance on Worlds in Collision in 1991) and later became an airline pilot. Eric Drew Feldman joined the band in time for the Cloudland tour and the recording of Worlds in Collision but left afterwards, joining Frank Black.
Story of My Life was released in 1993 on Imago Records; Maimone left (once again) to join They Might Be Giants, and Michele Temple and Garo Yellin joined the band for the Story of My Life tour and feature on Ubu's 1995 album, Ray Gun Suitcase. Robert Wheeler has played synthesizer and theremin with Pere Ubu since 1994. Krauss left the band during the Ray Gun Suitcase sessions. For the Ray Gun Suitcase tour, guitarist Jim Jones departed as a touring member (although he continued to contribute to recordings), founding guitarist Tom Herman replaced him for the tour.
Concurrent with the 1996 release of the Datapanik in Year Zero box set, Jim Jones retired due to health problems. Tom Herman returned to the band after a twenty year absence to tour with the band in 1995, and went on to record Pennsylvania in 1998 and St. Arkansas in 2002. Jim Jones contributed guitar tracks to each album as well, and guitarist Wayne Kramer of MC5 fame joined the band for their 1998 summer tour. Herman left again in 2005, being replaced by Keith Moliné, of David Thomas's "solo" group Two Pale Boys. The new lineup completed an album entitled Why I Hate Women, which was released on September 19th 2006.
On 18 February 2008, Jim Jones passed away at his Cleveland residence.
Something's Gotta Give
Pere Ubu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, no reason - just brother feelin'
You gotta feel sorry for the guy
No reason but brother feelin'
A man in the rain hat had to have his say,
Live and let live
The old man watches the water rise
Man, everybody knows something's gotta give
And when it goes it starts rollin' out of everywhere
Through floorboards,
Cracks in walls,
Oozin' down the chimney, halls
A real son of blob job
Welcome to our town
People swept along
People swept along and how?
With goats,
Cats,
Dogs and hats,
Oozin' down the chimney backs
A real son of blob job
The man in the rain hat had to have his say,
Live and let live
The old man watches the water rise
Man, everybody knows something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Nations rise and fall,
Dentist appointments forgotten by great and small
Mighty or humble,
Wise man or fool,
Rivulet or old man river.
Flaps flippin' out of slots every which-a-way.
And when it goes it starts rollin' out of everywhere.
The man in the rain hat had to have his say,
Live and let live
The old man watches the water rise
Man, everybody knows something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
The song “Something’s Gotta Give” by Pere Ubu is a somewhat cryptic and surreal piece that seems to be commenting on the inevitability of change and the chaos that can ensue when the status quo is upset. The repetition of the lines “You gotta feel sorry for the guy, no reason but brother feelin’” seems to imply a sense of empathy for those who are caught up in the forces beyond their control. The man in the rain hat who says “Live and let live” is perhaps meant to represent an attitude of acceptance and detachment, recognizing that life will go on regardless of what happens. Meanwhile, the old man who watches the water rise may symbolize an older, wiser perspective that understands the cyclical nature of things.
The references to goats, cats, dogs, and hats all seem to add to the surreal, dreamlike quality of the song. They may be meant to represent the various aspects of society that are swept along by the forces of change, without fully understanding what’s happening or where they’re going. The line “A real son of blob job” is particularly intriguing, as it’s not entirely clear what it’s referring to. It may be a comment on the absurdity of trying to make sense of the chaos, or perhaps an oblique reference to some aspect of contemporary culture that’s difficult to pin down.
Throughout the song, there’s a sense of impending doom and inevitability, as if something cataclysmic is about to happen. The line “And when it goes it starts rollin’ out of everywhere” suggests that whatever is coming will be widespread and all-encompassing. At the same time, however, the song seems to suggest that this change is necessary and perhaps even positive, as it’s part of the natural order of things. In the end, the repeated refrain of “Something’s gotta give” implies that there’s a release coming, a breaking point at which the tension will finally be relieved. What exactly that breaking point is, though, is left open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta feel sorry for the guy
Expressing sympathy for someone without any concrete reason, rooted in a sense of fraternity.
You gotta feel sorry for the guy
Reiteration of the previous line, emphasizing the need to feel for the person despite having no distinct reason.
A man in the rain hat had to have his say,
A person with a distinct identity and appearance feels compelled to express their thoughts.
Live and let live
Utterance of a famous philosophical principle implying peaceful coexistence and non-interference in others' lives.
The old man watches the water rise
Observation of nature's calamities, hinting at the pains of change and instability.
Man, everybody knows something's gotta give
Acknowledgment of the inevitability of change and the need to yield to it.
Something's gotta give
Reiteration of the previous line, emphasizing the need to accept and embrace change.
And when it goes it starts rollin' out of everywhere
When something breaks or changes, it leads to cascading effects and widespread consequences.
Through floorboards, cracks in walls, Oozin' down the chimney, halls
Painting a vivid picture of how change seeps through every nook and cranny, leaving little untouched.
A real son of blob job
An unapologetic and aggressive declaration referring to the upcoming change.
Welcome to our town
A sardonic and somewhat cynical welcome to the new reality being created by the change.
People swept along
Individuals caught in the waves of change and carried forward without much control of their own.
People swept along and how?
Enthusiastic reinforcement of how the change has affected people's lives, hinting at the collateral damage it has caused.
With goats, cats, dogs, and hats, Oozin' down the chimney backs
Describing how even inanimate objects and animals are caught up in the chaos of change.
Something's gotta give
Reiteration of the earlier declaration, further emphasizing the inevitability of change.
Nations rise and fall, Dentist appointments forgotten by great and small
Drawing a parallel between macro-level changes and micro-level disruptions, suggesting that nobody is immune to change's impact.
Mighty or humble, Wise man or fool, Rivulet or old man river
Reiterating that nobody is exempt from change's effects, irrespective of social status or other distinguishing factors.
Flaps flippin' out of slots every which-a-way.
A rather cryptic proclamation hinting at unpredictable and uncontrollable outcomes of change.
The old man watches the water rise
Reiteration of the observation made earlier, suggesting that the elder generation is usually wiser and experienced in handling change.
Man, everybody knows something's gotta give, Something's gotta give
Reiteration of the need to recognize and yield to change, acknowledging its inevitability.
The man in the rain hat had to have his say, Live and let live
Reiteration of the urge to embrace peace and harmonious coexistence in the face of change, despite the expression of dissenting views.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
papabulldog100
I was at that Metro show, and had no idea what I was in for when I walked in. David Thomas, manically pacing the stage, such a large presence in such a small space. It was one of those concerts that I wish I could press a button and go back and re-live every year. I've seen Pere Ubu since, but this was the best. Dentist appointments forgotten by great and small....
Phil Bourque
This is great. I like this later stuff where Dave works the crowd, in his inimitable way. I wish everyone connected with this all the best. I'm gonna watch and listen again.
astorcrombus nebulus
I was at this show and it was great!..also one of the very best Ubu albums...
TheWatsche
Wow! This is wonderful! Do you have more footage from this concert?
Xombigod
Classic Band. Amazing Album.
HellsDonutHouse
Such a great show, I had no recollection of this being videotaped. Thanks for posting this -- more, please!
HellsDonutHouse
@Pene lope No, the one I shot was a year after this during the "Cloudland" show. We were at this one, though - the same night we also saw Iggy Pop, The Ramones and The Dickies at the Aragon.
Pene lope
I thought you shot this...
ShinsFan
Thanks so much for posting this - This is my favorite song from the long-out-of-print Tenement Year.
toynbee3
Yeah, this is really good