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.
Ledge
The Replacements Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
High above the filthy streets
Heed no bullhorn when it calls
Watch me fly and die, watch me fall
I'm the boy they can't ignore,
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
All the love sent up high to pledge
Wind blows cold from the west
I smell coffee, I smell doughnuts for the press (on their breath?)
A girl that I knew once years ago
Is tryin' to be reached on the phone
I'm the boy she can't ignore,
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
All the love sent up high to pledge...
(Repeat)
Priest kneels silent, all is still
Policeman reaches from the sill
Watch him, watch him try his best
There'll be no medal pinned to his chest
I'm the boy they couldn't ignore,
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
(Repeat)
I'm the boy for the last time in my life
All the love that they pledge
For the last time will not reach the ledge...
The Replacements' song "Ledge" is a dark, melancholic tune about a young man who is about to commit suicide by jumping off a ledge. The lyrics are full of despair and resignation, with the singer describing himself as a boy that no one could ignore, and yet he feels so isolated and alone that he is willing to take his own life. The song suggests that the boy might be seeking attention or some sort of validation, but no matter how much love and support he receives, it will never be enough to save him from his own inner demons.
The first verse sets the scene with a sense of detachment, as the boy looks down at the "filthy streets" below him, ignoring the noise of the bullhorn calling out to him. The second verse adds a touch of humanity to the narrative, with the boy smelling coffee and doughnuts from the press below, and trying to call an old flame who he hopes will save him. The final verse is the most hopeful, as a priest and a policeman try to stop him from jumping, but nothing seems to work. The last line of the song repeats the sense of futility in the face of mental illness, with the love and support that the boy has received being not enough to make him want to live.
Overall, "Ledge" is a powerful song that captures the sense of hopelessness that can drive someone to take their own life, despite all of the love and support that might be around them. The Replacements' minimalist approach to music and lyrics makes the song all the more haunting, leaving a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
All eyes look up to me
I am the center of attention and everyone is looking at me
High above the filthy streets
I am elevated and removed from the dirtiness of the city
Heed no bullhorn when it calls
I don't listen to the authority or commands of others
Watch me fly and die, watch me fall
People are watching and waiting for me to succeed or fail
I'm the boy they can't ignore,
I am someone who is impossible to overlook or disregard
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
I am confident in my ability and worth for the first time ever
All the love sent up high to pledge
People are showing me love and support from a distance
Won't reach the ledge
Their love and support will not be enough to save me
Wind blows cold from the west
The wind is blowing coldly from the west
I smell coffee, I smell doughnuts for the press (on their breath?)
I can smell coffee and doughnuts on the breath of the reporters nearby
A girl that I knew once years ago
I am reminded of a girl I knew from my past
Is tryin' to be reached on the phone
Someone is attempting to reach her by phone
Priest kneels silent, all is still
A quiet moment as a priest kneels nearby
Policeman reaches from the sill
A policeman is trying to help from a nearby window
Watch him, watch him try his best
He is doing all he can
There'll be no medal pinned to his chest
His efforts will go unrewarded
I'm the boy they couldn't ignore,
Even in my death, I am still someone who cannot be overlooked or disregarded
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
I am still confident in my worth and abilities
All the love sent up high to pledge...
People are still sending love and support from a distance
I'm the boy for the last time in my life
This is my final moment as someone who cannot be ignored
All the love that they pledge
Even with all their love and support,
For the last time will not reach the ledge...
It will not be enough to save me from my fate
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL WESTERBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carys Raymond
All eyes look up to me
High above the filthy streets
Heed no bullhorn when it calls
Watch me fly and die, watch me fall
I'm the boy they can't ignore,
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
All the love sent up high to pledge
Won't reach the ledge
Wind blows cold from the west
I smell coffee, I smell doughnuts for the press (on their breath?)
A girl that I knew once years ago
Is tryin' to be reached on the phone
I'm the boy she can't ignore,
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
All the love sent up high to pledge...
Priest kneels silent, all is still
Policeman reaches from the sill
Watch him, watch him try his best
There'll be no medal pinned to his chest
I'm the boy they couldn't ignore,
For the first time in my life, I'm sure
Priest kneels silent, all is still
Policeman reaches from the sill
Watch him, watch him try his best
There'll be no medal pinned to his chest
I'm the boy for the last time in my life
All the love that they pledge
For the last time will not reach the ledge
UPROXX Indie Mixtape
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Spiral Scratch
The one I'm listening to.
Oppothumbs M
"Alex Chilton" off of Pleased to Meet Me.
Jesse Mullen
This song saved my life when I was younger, but there's another thing I wanna say here; I love that little lead that Paul plays over the last chorus starting at 2:44. It's only four notes, but it's so, so beautiful
J
Glad you're still here brother.
Mike Poitras
One of the most underrated bands of all time. They were,I think,getting there. Did silly MTV initially ban this video? I hope I imagined that.
Oppothumbs M
MTV banded it. Even though it was an anti-suicide video - they don't like show any videos of actual problems in the world.
Sir Fizz
@Oppothumbs M this is the video for Can't Hardly Wait. For some reason this channel has published it as the video for this and Alex Chilton
Sir Fizz
This video wasn't banned but actual one for The Ledge was. MTV gave plenty off airtime to music with serious subject matter... See RATM, Pubic Enemy... It's not about avoiding any life or social issues, it's simply that many songs about suicide draw concern about possibly encouraging it.
Hannah Anderson
@Sir Fizz it was originally the video for the ledge, they put it to alex chilton later on. there were a string of teen group suicides in the late 80s that cause the song to basically be black listed