The band's best known lineup consisted of Paul Westerberg (vocals, guitar), Bob Stinson (guitar), Tommy Stinson (bass) and Chris Mars (drums). They were infamous for their abrasive, hard drinking lifestyles and their ragged stage performances, notorious for coming to some shows too drunk to play very well at all. Sometimes, they just performed entire sets of covers, their picks showing their debt to 70s hard rock outfits.
The sound of this band showed off what their many fans saw as the very best of independent rock n' roll. More than possibly any other band since The Rolling Stones and the the Ramones, the Replacements embodied the spirit of rock, from their raucous performances, drug addictions, charismatic and romantic frontman, and wild, sometimes basic and sometimes powerfully confessional songs. At any given time, almost any list of 'The Best Rock Albums Of All Time' will include either the album 'Let It Be' or 'Tim', sometimes both.
Their sound started off as a classic rock influenced shade of punk, mutating to a melodic hardcore sound reminiscent of local buddies Hüsker Dü. They also progressed into a relatively straightforward but heartfelt rock style, with a number of highly soulful ballads from the heart of Westerberg to round out the mix.
The band broke up in 1991. Bob Stinson, who was fired from the band in 1986 (and was subsequently replaced by Slim Dunlap), died in 1995. Westerberg and Mars both have solo careers, and Tommy Stinson formed several bands, like Perfect and Bash and Pop, and now plays bass for Guns and Roses and Soul Asylum.
In 2012, Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson reformed the Replacements and recorded an EP, "Songs for Slim" as a benefit for former member Slim Dunlap, who had suffered a stroke. The band played their first show since 1991 on August 24, 2013 at RiotFest in Toronto, and has since played at several festivals since. The band also currently includes Josh Freese on drums and Dave Minehan on guitar. The band played its final show in June 2015.
Can't Hardly Wait
The Replacements Lyrics
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Tonight, I can't hold a pen
Someone's got a stamp that I can borrow
I promise not to blow the address again
Lights that flash in the evening
Through a crack in the drapes
He never buys any smokes
Hurry up, hurry up, ain't you had enough of this stuff?
Ashtray floors, dirty clothes, and filthy jokes
See you're high and lonesome
Try and try and try
Lights that flash in the evening
Through a hole in the drapes
I'll be home when I'm sleeping
I can't hardly wait
I can't wait, hardly wait
I can't wait, hardly wait
I can't wait, hardly wait
I can't wait, hardly wait
I can't wait, hardly wait
In The Replacements' song "Can't Hardly Wait," the lyrics express a sense of restlessness and longing. The singer wants to communicate with someone, as evidenced by the lines "I'll write you a letter tomorrow / Tonight, I can't hold a pen / Someone's got a stamp that I can borrow / I promise not to blow the address again." However, in the moment, the singer feels unable to take action ("tonight, I can't hold a pen"), perhaps because of emotional turmoil or feeling overwhelmed.
Throughout the song, there are references to lights that flash in the evening through a crack or hole in the drapes, which create a sense of voyeurism or feeling exposed. The mention of Jesus riding beside the singer, but not buying any smokes, creates a feeling of loneliness and a desire for comfort or connection. The repetition of "I can't wait, hardly wait" reinforces the intense feeling of anticipation and the sense that the singer is waiting for something or someone to arrive.
Overall, "Can't Hardly Wait" captures the feeling of longing and anticipation, as well as the struggles and emotional turmoil that can sometimes make it difficult to take action or express oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll write you a letter tomorrow
I am too overwhelmed and emotional to write a letter right now, but I promise to do so tomorrow.
Tonight, I can't hold a pen
My emotions are too strong right now for me to be able to hold a pen and write coherently.
Someone's got a stamp that I can borrow
I need someone else's help in order to send this letter.
I promise not to blow the address again
I promise to not make the same mistake again and send the letter to the wrong address.
Lights that flash in the evening
The bright lights outside my window catch my attention in the evening.
Through a crack in the drapes
I can see the lights by looking through a small opening in the drapes on my window.
Jesus rides beside me
I feel comforted and not alone because I believe that Jesus is watching over me.
He never buys any smokes
Jesus doesn't give into the vices of smoking like some other people I know.
Hurry up, hurry up, ain't you had enough of this stuff?
I'm tired of waiting and want to move on from whatever difficult situation I'm in.
Ashtray floors, dirty clothes, and filthy jokes
I'm surrounded by a dirty and unpleasant environment with crude humor.
See you're high and lonesome
I can tell that you're feeling lonely and disconnected from the world.
Try and try and try
Even though things are tough, you should keep trying and not give up.
Lights that flash in the evening
Again, the bright lights outside my window catch my attention in the evening.
Through a hole in the drapes
I'm still looking through a small opening in the drapes on my window to see the lights.
I'll be home when I'm sleeping
I'll feel comforted and at home when I'm able to rest and sleep.
I can't hardly wait
I am eager and excited for what's to come.
I can't wait, hardly wait
I am so excited that I can barely contain my anticipation.
I can't wait, hardly wait
I am continuing to express my excitement and anticipation for the future.
I can't wait, hardly wait
Once again, I am expressing how eager and excited I am for what comes next.
I can't wait, hardly wait
I am still unable to contain my excitement and anticipation for the future.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL WESTERBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind