He lives in his imagination
With those friend of his very own
He doesn't get along with the outside world
He'd rather be alone
Sometimes, when it's late at night
He starts to wonder why
The plans he made can never happen
So all he does is cry
His parents they can't understand
Why their son, he turned out wrong
He runs away from all the pain
And forget them when he's gone
He'd rather be all by himself
Because his plans, they seems the best
He finally gets the nerve one day
And now life becomes a test
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Mom and dad, I'm sorry
Mom and dad, don't worry
I'm not the son you wanted
But what did you expect
I've made my life of happiness
To combat your neglect
Mom and dad, I'm sorry
Mom and dad, don't worry
Mom and dad, I'm sorry
Mom and dad, don't worry
Don't worry, don't worry
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Whatever you want, whatever you do
Wherever you go, whatever you say
Most of what Tyrone wrote is correct. Hart denies that he and Mould were lovers. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%BCsker_D%C3%BC
In all the references to the break up that I've read, it was suggested that the causes were the various substance abuse problems, the suicide of their manager and then Mould being forced to manage the band.
Exactly. Also, Greg Norton is straight.
Exactly. Also, Greg Norton is straight.
IMO "Yeah im a fuck up but you didn't do anything to keep it from happening" sums it up well.
I heard from various other sources that this song was about the boy represented in the album finding out that hes becoming a homosexual. Every song on Zen Arcade has something to do with the life of this kid, thus making it a pretty sweet concept album
Zen Arcade is apparently a concept album about a child who runs away.
I don't see anything pointing to homosexuality in particular. There are so many ways children can disappoint their parents.
this song is so sad...
Gotta be one of the top ten greatest songs ever written. Moves along with such an impassioned pace, sounding at first hopeful before sinking back down as he repeats his mantra: "Whatever you want, whatever you go, wherever you go, whatever you say..." He knows his life is supposed to be lived in subservience to his parents' wishes and he robotically recites those words with the hollowness he has learned. That's effecting enough...but the point of the song where he confronts them... "I've made my world of happiness to combat your...ne....gle...e...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeect"... His voice fading into tortured moans, as Bob Mould's signature guitar wash moves through a system of the most emotionally gut-wrenching chords I've ever heard. "Zen Arcade" is one of the most magnificent artistic achievements of all time, and "Whatever" is its highest point.
:)
:)
I remember hearing that the song was about a kid who runs away
and norton had the look, but ironically enough, he was the only member of the band that was not a homosexual...
I think Hart is/was bi after reading Mould's autobiography.
I think Hart is/was bi after reading Mould's autobiography.
Haha yeah I found that ironic about Norton too. Anyhoo, as Zen Arcade is a concept album about a boy who runs away, I'd say this is some kind of letter to home telling his parents not to worry. BTW Bob and Grant did not have relations of the sexual kind.
It is hard not to hear the lyric "I'm not the son you wanted / But what did you expect? / I made my world of happiness / to combat your neglect" as coming from a place of childhood emotional trauma that may be related to Bob's homosexuality. If you read Bob's memoir it is clear that the Mould house was, at best, somewhat chaotic and that Bob didn't have the best relationship with his father.
"Whatever" is the fulcrum upon which Zen Arcade's emotional power rests, where its themes are spelled out and the depiction of home life in "Broken Home, Broken Heart" are brought to resolution.
The band is firing on all cylinders and it is one of Bob's most compelling vocal performances. Although Grant doesn't have a lot of tricks in his suitcase he does blast out a lengthy fill on this track that I love. After this track the is the dreamy denouement of "The Tooth Fairy And The Princess" answering the catharsis of "Whatever" with a long exhale, an entreaty to remain determined nonetheless ("Don't give up").
I'm not sure if all of Zen Arcade is about Homosexuality, but Bob and Grant were definitely lovers and the end of their relationship ended the band (ok, both's drug use certainly contributed as well). Check out Grant's 2451.
Also, check out Norton's stache...undoubtedly gay.
Anyone from the cities who was there in the 80s knows this.
Greg Norton isn't gay, even though his mustache might have stereotypically signified otherwise. Bob and Grant both were, but they weren't lovers, that's just a very old and tired rumor, Captain Obvious.
Greg Norton isn't gay, even though his mustache might have stereotypically signified otherwise. Bob and Grant both were, but they weren't lovers, that's just a very old and tired rumor, Captain Obvious.