Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band formed in the summer of 19… Read Full Bio ↴Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band formed in the summer of 1981 by Minneapolis high school friends Dan Murphy, Karl Mueller, and Dave Pirner. The band (named Loud Fast Rules up until 1984) quickly became frontrunners of American college rock, following in the tradition of fellow Minnesota bands Hüsker Dü and The Replacements.

Landing their first record deal with Twin/Tone in 1984, Soul Asylum recorded a total of four albums for the local label: Say What You Will... Everything Can Happen in 1984 (later reissued as Say What You Will, Clarence... Karl Sold the Truck), Made To Be Broken in 1986, While You Were Out in 1986, and the EP Clam Dip and Other Delights in 1988. The band then switched to A&M, releasing Hang Time in 1988 and And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990 under that label. Although they enjoyed some success as a live band, Soul Asylum suffered from low album sales and considered disbanding.

In 1992, they signed with Columbia Records to produce Grave Dancers Union, a record that would come to transform them from underground college rockers to international superstars. The first two singles off the album, Somebody To Shove and Black Gold, both came in at high positions at the Modern Rock and Album Rock charts, but it was the album's third track and it's video of missing teens that led them to their major breakthrough. Runaway Train peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, raised album sales to double-platinum level, and won Soul Asylum the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994.

In 1995, Soul Asylum followed up the success of Grave Dancers Union with Let Your Dim Light Shine, which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200 and featured the #1 Modern Rock track Misery. After releasing Candy From A Stranger in 1998, the band members took a break from recording and didn't release a new studio album for the better part of seven years. During the interim singer Dave Pirner released a solo album and Dan Murphy toured and recorded with Golden Smog.

They reunited in 2004 to record their ninth full-length album, The Silver Lining, brought together by the news of Mueller being diagnosed with throat cancer. Up until this point, Soul Asylum had always included Murphy, Mueller, and Pirner, despite several line-up changes. This changed on June 17th, 2005, when Mueller passed away after finishing his work on several tracks on the new album. The Silver Lining was released in 2006 and dedicated to Karl Mueller's life and memory, with Murphy expressing that, "For me, this record is Karl."

In late 2005, ex-Replacements bassist (and current Guns N' Roses bassist) Tommy Stinson and former Prince drummer Michael Bland joined Soul Asylum in tribute to the late Karl Mueller. They completed their American tour in support of The Silver Lining in late 2006. In November and December 2006 they opened for Cheap Trick on their American tour. On March 10th, 2007, Soul Asylum joined Cyndi Lauper, Mint Condition, and Lifehouse to hold a concert to benefit Wain McFarlane, the leader of the legendary reggae band Ipso Facto, to help pay for the expenses of a kidney transplant.

http://www.soulasylum.com

99%
Soul Asylum Lyrics

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Ninety-nine percent of the time

If I asked you what's on your mind
Would you say me, would they be thoughts unkind

But once in a while, I'm not myself
Once in a while, I think you're someone else
I want you ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time

Let's move in together
Happily ever after

I can't touch you but you feel so fucking fine
Let's just stay like this and waste some more time

Once in a while, you get in my way
Once in a while, you know I've got to say
I love you ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time

Ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the Soul Asylum song "99%" is about a person's love for someone they can't quite have all the time. The singer acknowledges that they don't own the person they love, but they still feel like they belong to them. They promise to never abandon this person or treat them badly. However, sometimes this person gets on their nerves, and sometimes they even get what they deserve. Despite all of this, the singer still wants this person 99% of the time. They ask if the person thinks of them as much as they think of them, but sometimes the singer feels like their love interests someone else. The song ends with a plea to move in together happily ever after, even though they cannot physically touch, but they feel amazing. The singer admits that sometimes this person gets in their way, but they love them anyway, 99% of the time.

In essence, "99%" is a love song that illustrates a person's deep affection for someone they can't always be with, but they still hold on to the hope of being together, no matter what. The lyrics show how the singer's love is not perfect, but it still remains strong and constant, despite the challenges they face. It is a heartfelt expression of devotion, sung with Soul Asylum's signature blend of rock and melancholy.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't own you but I know you're mine
I don't control you, but I feel a bond between us

Never disown you, never treat you unkind
I will always value you and treat you with kindness

But once in a while, you get on my nerves
Occasionally you irritate me

Once in a while, you get what you deserve
Sometimes you reap what you sow

I need you ninety-nine percent of the time
I rely on you almost all the time

If I asked you what's on your mind
If I inquired about your thoughts

Would you say me, would they be thoughts unkind
Would you think of me, or unpleasant things?

But once in a while, I'm not myself
Occasionally I am not my usual self

Once in a while, I think you're someone else
Occasionally I mistake you for someone else

I want you ninety-nine percent of the time
I desire you almost all the time

Let's move in together
Let us live in the same dwelling

Happily ever after
Living joyfully together for the rest of our lives

I can't touch you but you feel so fucking fine
Although I cannot physically touch you, I enjoy feeling close to you

Let's just stay like this and waste some more time
Let's enjoy this moment and not worry about anything else

Once in a while, you get in my way
Sometimes you obstruct my path

Once in a while, you know I've got to say
Occasionally I must speak up

I love you ninety-nine percent of the time
I have strong feelings of love for you almost all the time

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PIRNER, DAVID ANTHONY PIRNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Somebody to Shove3:42

09Without a Trace3:33

10Growing Into You3:13

1199%3:59

PT3M59S

Soul Asylum

12The Sun Maid3:51

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Comments from YouTube:

Erik Calavera

2y↑2

This is one of my all-time favorite songs.

UnFuckTheWorld18

2y↑1

I don't own you but I know you're mine
Never disown you, never treat you unkind

But once in a while, you get on my nerves
Once in a while, you get what you deserve
I need you ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time [x3]

If I asked you what's on your mind
Would you say me, would they be thoughts unkind

But once in a while, I'm not myself
Once in a while, I think you're someone else
I want you ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time [x3]

Let's move in together
Happily ever after

I can't touch you but you feel so fucking fine
Let's just stay like this and waste some more time

Once in a while, you get in my way
Once in a while, you know I've got to say
I love you ninety-nine percent of the time
Ninety-nine percent of the time [x3