The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The Replacements
The third track off Pleased to Meet Me, “I Don’t Know” is Paul Westerberg’s poison pen letter to the music industry. The song asks all the questions stemming from trying to succeed in the face of external as well as internal expectations and pressures, not the least of which being self-doubt.
[Intro]
Ah-ha-ha-ha
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
[Verse 1]
Do we give it up? (I don't know)
Should we give it hell? (I don't know)
Are you makin' a fortune? (I don't know)
Or don't you wanna tell? (I don't know)
Should we give it up? (I don't know)
Or hang around some more? (I don't know)
Should we buy some beer? (I don't know)
Can I use your hairspray?
[Chorus]
One foot in the door
The other foot in the gutter
The sweet smell that you adore
Yeah, I think I'd rather smother
[Verse 2]
Should we top it off? (I don't know)
It's startin' to smoke (I don't know)
Who's behind the board? (I don't know)
They tell me he's a dope (I don't know)
What the fuck you sayin'? (I don't know)
Our lawyer's on the phone (I don't know)
How much are you in for? (I don't know)
What did we do now?
[Chorus]
One foot in the door
The other foot in the gutter
The sweet smell that they adore
I think I'd rather smother
One foot in the door
The other one in the gutter
The sweet smell that they adore
Oh, I think I'd rather smother
[Post-Chorus]
Uh! (Wee-ooh!)
Uh! (Wee-ooh!)
Uh! (Wee-ooh!)
Uh! (Wee-ooh!)
[Bridge]
Four, five, six, seven, eight
Nine, ten, eleven, twelve
[Verse 3]
Are you guys still around? (I don't know)
Whatcha gonna do with your life? (Nothing)
[Chorus]
One foot in the— fuckup
The other one in the gutter
The sweet smell that you adore
Hey, I think I'd rather smother
One foot in this door
The other one in the gutter
The sweet smell that they adore
Oh, I think I'd rather smother
[Post-Chorus]
Wee-ooh!
Oh, aw (Wee-ooh!)
Oh, aw (Wee-ooh!)
Oh, aw (Wee-ooh!)
[Outro]
Oh (Wee-ooh!) Aw (Wee-ooh!)
Oh (Wee-ooh!) Aw (Wee-ooh!)
Oh (Wee-ooh!) Aw (Wee-ooh!)
Oh (Wee-ooh!) Aw (Wee-ooh!)
Oh (Wee-ooh!) Aw (Wee-ooh!)
I Don’t Know was written by Chris Mars & Tommy Stinson & Paul Westerberg.
I Don’t Know was produced by Jim Dickinson.
The Replacements released I Don’t Know on Wed Jun 17 1987.