This song is Paul Westerberg’s tribute, of sorts, to rock as a cure for suburban boredom. The rock band he listens to in this case are fellow Minneapolis rockers, Husker Du.

At the time this song was written, the bands were friendly competitors and no malice was intended. Although both began as postpunk hardcore, the groups could not have been more different. HD was a professional outfit, rehearsing all the time, with guitarist Bob Mould the taskmaster in chief. The Mats by comparison were sloppy, decidedly unprofessional misfits.

Oh, and one more thing: In the early 80s, bassist Tommy Stinson, The Mats' bassist, in response to a question asking how the bands differed replied, “We like girls.” Both Bob Mould and drummer Grant Hart had male lovers, in what was one of the underground scene’s worst kept secrets. Michael Azerrad discusses Hart and Mould’s sexuality briefly in Our Band Could Be Your Life (Back Bay Books, 2002, p. 179).