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.
Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
The Replacements Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hi Susie, do you know what?
I've been in the hospital
Open wide, the doctor's here
Everything is fine, got nothing to fear
Strap 'em down, we're outta gas
Stop your bawling, ya little brat
Let's get this over with, I tee off in a hour
Didn't wash up, yesterday I took a shower
Get this over with, I tee off in an hour
My Cadillac's running
Let's
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
Open wide, ya little snot
That's the way we knock em out
Got nothing to fear
Got nothing to be afraid of
Doctor's here, nothing to be afraid of
Let's get this over with, I tee off in an hour
Did I wash up?
Yesterday, I took myself a shower
My Cadillac's running
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
The Replacements' song "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out" is a humorous take on a common childhood experience. The song begins with Tommy telling his friend Susie that he has been in the hospital, revealing that he has just had his tonsils removed. The doctor enters and straps Tommy down, preparing to remove his tonsils. Tommy is frightened and begins to cry, but the doctor reassures him that there is nothing to be afraid of.
The lyrics then shift to the doctor's perspective, as he is eager to finish the procedure and get back to his golf game. The repetitive chant of "Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now" adds a sense of brutality to the scene, as if the procedure is violent and painful.
The song brilliantly captures the fear and anxiety that many children experience when undergoing a medical procedure, while also poking fun at the medical profession and the sometimes callous attitude of doctors. It's a humorous and catchy song that perfectly embodies The Replacements' unique brand of punk rock.
Line by Line Meaning
Tommy gets his tonsils out
Tommy is undergoing a tonsillectomy procedure
Hi Susie, do you know what?
The singer is addressing Susie with curiosity
I’ve been in the hospital
The singer has been hospitalized for some reason
Open wide, the doctor’s here
The doctor has arrived and asks the patient to open their mouth
Everything is fine, got nothing to fear
The doctor reassures the patient that the procedure will be safe
Strap 'em down, we're outta gas
The patient is restrained because the anesthesia is about to be administered
Stop your bawling, ya little brat
The patient is told to stop crying and is insulted with the word 'brat'
Let's get this over with, I tee off in an hour
The singer is impatient and wants the procedure to end quickly so they can go play golf
Didn't wash up, yesterday I took a shower
The singer didn't wash before the procedure, but did take a shower the day before
Rip, rip, we're gonna rip 'em out now
The tonsils are going to be removed by force
Open wide, ya little snot
The patient is called a snotty kid and asked to open their mouth
That's the way we knock 'em out
The singer implies that knocking out the patient is the only way to do the procedure
Got nothing to fear
The patient has nothing to worry about
Got nothing to be afraid of
The patient is again reassured that everything will be fine
Doctor's here, nothing to be afraid of
The singer again emphasizes that the doctor is present and the patient should not be afraid
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRIS MARS, PAUL WESTERBERG, ROBERT STINSON,, TOMMY STINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind