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.
Valentine
The Replacements Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I guess that's right on par
Who's left to blame?
If you were a pill
I'd take a handful at my will
And I'd knock you back with something sweet and strong
Plenty of times you wake up in February make-up
[Chorus:]
Tonight makes love to all your kind
Tomorrow's makin' Valentines
Hey you pop up in this old place
So sick and so refined (divine?)
Are you strung out on some face?
Well I know it ain't mine
If you were a pill, I'd take a handful at my will,
And I'd knock you back with something sweet and strong
Trouble keeping your head up when you're hungry and you're fed up,
Like a moon and a lone star you're gone
[Chorus:]
If you were a pill, I'd take a handful at my will,
And I'd knock you back with something sweet as wine
Yesterday was theirs to say, this is their world and their time
Well if tonight belongs to you, tomorrow's mine
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
The Replacements' song "Valentine" is a reflection on a relationship that has gone sour. In the first verse, Paul Westerberg describes the feeling of disappointment and frustration that comes when a wish upon a star turns into something commonplace. He questions who is to blame for the situation, suggesting that both parties may have played a role in the breakdown of the relationship. The second verse sees the singer longing for a past love and imagining them as a pill; something he could take to ease his pain. He's nostalgic for the times when she would wake up with February make-up, but her presence now feels distant and unattainable. The chorus emphasizes this feeling of loss and longing, with the mention of past loves and tomorrow's Valentine's celebrating a new love that he won't be a part of.
Overall, "Valentine" is a melancholy song that speaks to the frustration and disappointment that often comes with love. The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship that has run its course, where both partners are longing for a connection that is no longer possible. While the imagery of a pill is a bit dark, it speaks to the idea that love can be both addicting and painful.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you wish upon a star that turns into a plane
You hope for things that are impossible to achieve, which is as likely to happen as a star turning into a plane.
And I guess that's right on par
And I suppose that's how things usually go.
Who's left to blame?
Who is responsible for where we are now?
If you were a pill
If you were a substance I could consume.
I'd take a handful at my will
I'd consume as much of you as I could.
And I'd knock you back with something sweet and strong
I'd mix you with something that tastes good and makes me feel good.
Plenty of times you wake up in February make-up
You often wake up from your dreamlike state, realizing that Valentine's Day has passed by.
Like the moon and the morning star you're gone
You disappear just like the moon and the morning star vanish from the sky at dawn.
[Chorus:] Tonight makes love to all your kind Tomorrow's makin' Valentines
This moment is for those who enjoy a wild night, while tomorrow will bring a day of love and affection.
Hey you pop up in this old place
Hey, you show up in this familiar spot.
So sick and so refined (divine?)
You seem unwell yet still superior.
Are you strung out on some face?
Are you hooked on someone's charm or looks?
Well I know it ain't mine
Well, I know that you're not captivated by me.
Trouble keeping your head up when you're hungry and you're fed up
It's difficult to stay positive when you're starving and dissatisfied.
Like a moon and a lone star you're gone
You vanish like the moon and a single star in the sky.
[Chorus:] If you were a pill, I'd take a handful at my will, And I'd knock you back with something sweet as wine
If you were a drug, I'd consume you without restraint, and I'd mix you with something very pleasurable.
Yesterday was theirs to say, this is their world and their time
The past is someone else's domain, but the present belongs to all of us.
Well if tonight belongs to you, tomorrow's mine
If you can have your way tonight, then tomorrow is mine to control.
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
This same sentiment is repeated twice in the chorus.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRIS MARS, PAUL WESTERBERG, TOMMY STINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind