Pure Punk Picks
Diane – Husker Du
After a very quiet beginning, a roaring guitar erupts like a tsunami wave crashing on an idyllic island front. With dissonant notes in the chords representing the bamboo village huts washed away by the loud, blaring chords.
Already, an unsettling mood has been set in place.
“Hey, little girl, do you need a ride? Well, I’ve got room in my wagon. Why don’t you hop inside? We could cruise down Robert Street all night long. But I think I’ll just rape you and kill you, instead.”
If you’re familiar with The Doors song “The End”, which was originally written as a goodbye song to a high school sweetheart, and ended up as an Oedipus like song that contains the main character raping his mother and slaying his dad- this song has a somewhat, similar vibe.
There’s a bit of clever wordplay in the chorus as well. The name of this song and victim is Diane. And as the chorus repeats her name, it can easily be heard as “Diane, dyin’, Diane.” Just another chilling touch.
“I’ll put your clothes in a nice, little pile…You’re the cutest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s all over now and with my knife.”
The first girl I was ever sexually involved was named Diane. I can’t hear this song without thinking about her. And chills go down my spine when I think how horrific it is, what the story of this song is about.
Yeah, someone like G.G. Allin may be more shocking with his words- but here, it’s presented so nonchalantly, just like a telling of the days’ events, like a diary reading. For me, that makes it even more harrowing.
There’s a short space between danger and excitement, where the adrenaline is equally flowing. A short space between being scared and being aroused. A short space between being repulsed and enchanted. As there is a short space between pleasure and pain.
But, artistically, this is a rare and wondrous place to be in or to experience, revulsion and attraction offered up at the same moment.
I love songs that are scary and exciting, simultaneously. That attracts and repulses at once. I’m not a fan of horror movies- much too gory for my delicate sensibilities, but perhaps that’s a good analogy.
It almost comical how simple and undramatic the line, “But I think I’ll just rape you and kill you instead” is spoken.
But it has a stark, straight forwardness, an honesty in the line that probably, expresses clearly what goes on in a predators mind. As this is his natural way of thinking, that this is his natural way of acting, as well.
We’re really all raped and killed daily, by the patriarchy’s mind set. Where men are King and white is King and straight sexuality is King. And money is King and power is king and if you are a King you are allowed to rape and kill all others. Especially, the most vulnerable including women, children and animals.
But let us praise our white, male God because all white males are created in his image. He made us in his image, so we are free to rape and kill at will.
I pray this soon will end, to my Goddess and I believe so.
There’s a rhythm guitar break in this song that’s possibly, inspired by some Velvet Underground rave ups. But if not, it’s so energetic, so powerful, so grand- that it must match the best ones of all time. (I’m thinking of Buzzcocks “Everybody’s Happy Nowadays” as one.)
It sounds like a dentist drill going wildly, out of control. It sounds like the musical equivalent of insanity running through a maniac’s brain.
I must admit, I’m just a casual fan of Husker Du, though I do feel they had a lot of great songs. But this one is. by far, the best for me.
Musically, is sounds a lot like Mission Of Burma to my ears, one of my all time favorite Boston bands who existed at the same time as this band.
But lyrically? I’d say this reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe.
It’s chilling to the bone.
(Slimedog)
