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.
Rattlesnake
The Replacements Lyrics
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You gotta hold on
You gotta hold on,
You got a rattlesnake
I'm a rattlesnake...
The lyrics to The Replacements' song Rattlesnake present a metaphorical image of a person cruising on their belly throughout the night, holding on tight because they have a rattlesnake that they are trying to contain. The imagery of a rattlesnake suggests danger, unpredictability, and aggression, all of which are qualities that can be associated with human emotions and relationships. In this sense, the song may be interpreted as an exploration of the difficulties and challenges that come with dealing with intense emotions and relationships.
The repeated line "you gotta hold on" reinforces the idea that the person in the song is trying to control something that is difficult to manage, and suggests a sense of urgency and desperation. The line "I'm a rattlesnake" may be seen as an acknowledgement of the singer's own dangerous qualities, suggesting a level of self-awareness and introspection. Overall, the lyrics to Rattlesnake can be viewed as a powerful metaphor for the struggles that people face when trying to navigate intense feelings and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Cruisin' on my belly all night long,
I've been crawling and moving forward for a long time, not bothering about my discomfort, hoping to reach my destination.
You gotta hold on
Don't lose your grip or give up on me yet, as I might slip away from you or get lost without your support.
You gotta hold on,
I am repeating my plea for you to stay with me and not let go of me, as I need your help to survive or escape from danger.
You got a rattlesnake
You are dealing with a dangerous and unpredictable creature, like a rattlesnake, that might harm you if you mishandle it or ignore its warning signs.
I'm a rattlesnake...
I am admitting that I can be sneaky, venomous, and hard to handle, like a rattlesnake, but I also have my unique beauty, power, and purpose in life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS MARS, PAUL WESTERBERG, ROBERT STINSON,, TOMMY STINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind