The Replacements - Achin' To Be (Video)

© 2005 WMG
Achin' To Be (Video)

[@alexog3503]

“If no one’s on your canvas, well, I’m achin’ to be” - I very much understand this metaphor

[@robertmcmanus9185]

Just another amazing line from a master.

[@alabaster9]

The Replacements were (and still are) a huge part of my life. Both musically and emotionally. Saw them on their last tour at the Beacon Theater before they broke up. Paul cried a bit and said, "This is gonna hurt" as they transitioned from Unsatisfied to Sadly Beautiful. And that it was.

[@oppothumbs1]

Interesting segway from clever Paul.

[@scotthamel7385]

Great, criminally under rated band

[@pauldsheppard126]

Sounds extremely poignant. Wow what a privilege to have seen that *)

[@JaminInDarkness]

The Replacements are a part if my emotions from my college years. I'm glad I can feel those feelings thru the music, but glad I don't fell that way now. That's too . . . melancholy, in that special way.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I saw them on that tour too. The Call Ballroom in Iowa. I bought a T-shirt with an old-timey woman on it, pointing to a sign that read said “welcome Funeral Directors, Replacements in rooms 110-114.” … on the back was a cartoon of the 4-members in a hot-air ballon and it read “Coming to your happy town” … they played a short-set because someone threw a bottle at Slim Dunlap. They played taste of Chicago a few weeks later and that was it. Very Quietly, one of the most influential bands on 90’s-rock had broken-up.

[@sadymaher44]

One of the best songs ever written .

[@rexchiquine6049]

It is,,,,

[@Tipp_Of_The_Mitt]

Don't Tell A Soul did not get the greatest reviews, but I think it's one of their best releases.

[@maxkproductions]

the fact it didn't break them much higher is crazy to me. it mixes typical Mats flare with Hooters-style modern (at the time) rock production. it's really great and a shame it wasn't as big as it deserved to be.

[@captainpetefarrell1]

@@maxkproductionsgreat band. I know their former manager from that era. may have been the second recording where they actually got into the process as opposed to trashing it out and being done. dome great songs for sure but a bit uneven. previous album pleased to meet me was much stronger.

[@maxkproductions]

@@captainpetefarrell1 that's so cool! I agree don't tell a soul is a bit uneven

[@barnoidbatno3607]

Paul Westerberg was just a song writing machine. And a genius.

[@shashsrivas]

One of the finest songwriters of all time. My personal favourite, mr westerberg.

[@robertmcmanus9185]

Yep.

[@larsgpersson4120]

The worlds most underrated band. absolute fab. a mats classic

[@oppothumbs1]

Most underrated to the nth degree.

[@tedconroy7867]

My

[@babyfactory587]

Lol calm down

[@mymusic5632]

How can you call them underrated they were one of the pioneers of alternative and indie rock & roll music in North America. People back then didn't know who they were. There music is somewhat melancholy. Is it Rock, Folk, Country or something else. Remember the band came out around the late 70's. People weren't informed well. Before the internet. Plus radio was biased.

[@josephzake9248]

Definitely not underrated, highly regarded and not forgotten by many of a certain age... in fact they may actually be overrated.

[@amityboattours]

Amazing lyrics on observing someone in recluse and wanting to be let into their world. The best band ever!

[@scottleipski1015]

No body can make this heartfelt kind of music anymore!

[@southkid1992]

This song hits me in the heart, it reminds of a girl i once knew that was like this, she was an artist and i was one of her only friends, she was a beautiful soul, and she still is but once people starting flocking to her she never was the same...i guess some times its better to be Achin'

[@JaminInDarkness]

Popularity isn't an inherent part the Artist psyche.

[@motorcop505]

Paul Westerberg is one of the best, and certainly the most under-appreciated singer/songwriters ever. I only pray that he would tour again and that the "Mats would get together for at least one more tour.

[@robertmcmanus9185]

I got to see them just before they split up... then at a festival in Montreal.... missed them in Toronto as I was out of town. Maybe, just maybe they'll do it one more time.

[@Dnicecolney]

I'm the only one who listend to the replacements back at school, and still as an adult... One day i'd have someone to share the music with

[@altpowerpop2081]

The heyday of WHFS radio- Weasel, Damien, et al playing the 'Mats, Marshall Crenshaw, REM, et al. If you were there, you're already smiling just thinking about it. And at 65, I know we can't re-live those glorious times, but I for one am, well...achin' to be.

[@jamaral81]

The Replacements were like Big Star of the 80s, they deserved to be bigger than they were, granted the lasted a lot longer, sold three times as more, had a "hit" with I'll Be You, signed to a big label and had the benefit of MTV like this video so at least they had that going for them, long live Big Star and The Replacements

[@PatheticHero]

Big Star was '72. Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, Bell died in a tragic car crash in '78?, Chris Bell toon "Your Sister" : kzbin.info/www/bejne/o17cp5d_fbSXrtk Of course Alex Chilton has "13": kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqXIZH2dYpd0rpY Early seventies sounds very much like the Mlps Mats, or a bit like the Seattle Grunge sound of the 1990s... Long story short: quality music never goes old of style. FYI, Paul Westerberg is, hands down, the best songwriter from the frozen tundra of MN... exceeds all including: Bob Dylan, Prince R Nelson, and even Townes Van Zandt.

[@squigmon93]

Knew about The Replacements back in the day but wasn't into this style back then. 80s metal was the thing. I have been listening to them now I'm older and appreciating their work. The Replacements might be the biggest underrated band of all time. They are so good.

[@jamesm876]

Heard this song in the grocery store the other day of all places, the grown up mats were just as good and this song shows it.

[@faunaflage]

"For some reason...I'm achin'....for beets."

[@sadymaher44]

Simplly one of the best songs ever written

[@Grant_Ferstat]

One of my top 5 songs ever. It's just perfect. That The Replacements weren't as big as REM is a tragedy, but, at least partly one of their own making.

[@brandov3493]

This is something to be thankful for!

[@rexchiquine6049]

They were big in California,,,,,

[@robertmcmanus9185]

They were nowhere in Canada. Despite mentioning our country. We've been pretty good up here at helping alternative bands get started. We failed big time when it came to The Mats. How could people not have heard how important they were??

[@richardschneller7674]

I wish I could comment on more of these songs! They are all killing it even now in 2022!

[@timsinclair4700]

At some point in our lives we're all achin' for something aren't we? Some of us find what we want and some just keep on trying. Hope you find what you're achin' for. My favorite band. Always will be.

[@weakanklesfornamjoon]

well said friend

[@sadymaher44]

One of the best songs ever wriitten here on planet earth .

[@amityboattours]

Possibly the best song ever written.

[@ironflazambat5815]

Crazy claim, but part of me is starting to consider that. I’ve listened to it so much in the past couple days especially that I’m scared I’ll wear it out

[@flip65515]

I remember there was a point in the 80s when everytime the Replacements would put out a record, you could almost guarantee that it would end up in the bargain bin. So, I always ended up getting their stuff cheap but at the same time I was pissed off at the injustice of the music industry

[@weakanklesfornamjoon]

yup

[@TLGTEC]

Paul is an amazing song writer! This song is as simple as it is beautiful.

[@caramason56]

Love this band, song, and video 😊❤️🎶😊❤️🎶😊❤️🎶

[@ukpunk1]

listened to this in my early military days at Ft. Gordon, Georgia in 1989.

[@weakanklesfornamjoon]

To be seen so clearly and respectfully by another person that they write a song about it yet never betray her privacy. That’s some rare art.

[@SolamenteVees]

This song takes on a completely different meaning at 44.

[@Clownballoon_Jones]

I am 44 and did not want to say that but wow, yeah.

[@sarahemikula]

And 41....the nostalgia is heavy-duty!

[@MegCazalet]

At 16 this meant *everything* to me.

[@robertmartin5266]

52 and still.....

[@craigkidd6197]

49 - and yes it does. And maybe that's why it is sublimely great.

[@lesliezaremba2195]

Does anyone else see the ADD girl? I first saw her in me when I heard this in the 80s...😭💔 Wow, there is a beauty in her that maybe he does not get. Maybe she doesn't either...it touched my heart and made me realize what I may look like to someone else. I had hope that they wd see me thru loving eyes, like this💖

[@Bix12]

Maybe my favorite Replacements song....that's a tough call to make, though.

[@cutemuffinmama]

It's definitely my favorite

[@baileyb4470]

the effects and photography here are fantastic!

[@kerryhansen6552]

The Beatles of Minnesota!

[@robertmartin5266]

So many have yet to hear them...

[@gerardochavez5654]

This is the most honest band in the music history, don't say that, the beatles were a plastic band

[@viniciusduraes4067]

and Husker Du is the Byrds of Mn.

[@JayyVee41]

The Beatles of the world!

[@bradwalsh1903]

Vinicius Durães And Soul Asylum is the Kinks of Mn.

[@chuffa1130]

At 2 minutes and 19 seconds you can hear one of the band members go "WOOOooo!" I just love how authentic that sounds as it was captured during the performance true genius these guys were!

[@bourbonblog]

ONe of the best songs of this era, I've always loved it

[@robertidania5515]

Quando recen cheguei nos EUA eu escutava deles. Muito legal. As vezes lembro disso e fico desastrado.

[@treetrout3987]

I've been a fan of the Placemats since the 80's- IMO you have achieved yer goal , Paul as a great songwriter as Chilton

[@stuartmcgill6800]

What a great song. I was just in the mood for this! 😃

[@robertmoe7101]

how great is this song

[@Murp268]

Don't Tell a Soul was a great album and this could be the best track from it. Had it on cassette.

[@scottleipski1015]

What happen to music like this?Todays blows!

[@kls4270]

when in the right mood...one of my fav bands alltime

[@ScottL-w7e]

Music as it is ment to be. Simple. Great. The Replacements. sgl

[@darylcumming7119]

Thank you.

[@caramason56]

So beautiful 👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@MAKATTI64]

excellent song and yes lyrics make great songs..love this..thank you bro

[@BrutusMcCrunch]

Gives me chills just like the first time I heard and saw it like 22 years ago

[@timoakes450]

great -forever thanks mats

[@sgeorge3167]

I've never felt comfortable calling them the 'mats even though I've loved their music for along time....

[@mirandal2172]

Well, she's kinda like an artist Sittin' on the floor Never finishes, she abandons Never shows a soul And she's kinda like a movie That everyone rushes to see But no one understands it Sittin' in their seats Well, she opens her mouth to speak and what comes out a mystery Thought about, not understood She's achin' to be Well, she dances alone in nightclubs Every other day of the week People look right through her Baby doll, check your cheek And she's kinda like a poet Who finds it hard to speak Poems come so slowly Like the colors down in a sheet Well, she opens her mouth to speak and what comes out a mystery Thought about, not understood She's achin' to be I've been achin' for a while now, friend I've been achin' hard for years ... Well, she's kinda like an artist Who uses paints no more Never show 'em what you're doing Never show a soul Well, I saw one of your pictures There was nothing that I could see If no one's on your canvas Well, I'm achin' to be She closes her mouth to speak and she closes her eyes to see Thought about and only loved She's achin' to be...just like me

[@pabloisusi6097]

Once in a while, I need getting back home. That´s coming to this song and to them.

[@shelloz09]

LOVE THIS SONG!!! these guys are gonna be on Fallon Tonight, tonight! so excited :D

[@stevenmandl4920]

I remember that night,and I missed them

[@lyonslaforet]

What a great song! The Replacements didn't deserve to break up in 1991.

[@lyonslaforet]

@Susan Elizabeth I'm French and I was only eight years old in 1991. I wasn't really interested in music at that time. My comment was posted around 2012 and since, I read Bob Mehr's excellent biography about the Mats, Troubled Boys, the True Story of the Replacements. He devotes a chapter to their last concert in Chicago which left a taste of unfinished for some spectators. I also better understood their chaotic career and why they split afterwards. It also enhanced again my love for their music!

[@rdrrr]

@@lyonslaforet Paul Westerberg has the soul of a poet. I don't think the Replacements ever set foot in France, and of course there's the language barrier, but somehow I feel Paul's songs are very "compatible" with French tastes in art. Moody, romantic, desperate, cynical and dreamy all at once.

[@TELESCOPEKID]

one of the best!!!

[@captaindaring]

Mat fan for life.

[@chrishalls6106]

Brilliant and catchy

[@melonseason699]

SEEN YOUR VIDEO

[@たまたまたまたま-o9n]

パンクでありクラシック。一見反対に見えても人間の根源にある相反する感情。 それを美しいメロディに乗せて体現したバンド。

[@mattg629]

What seems to get lost about The 'Mats is they were ahead of their time. Nirvana released "Nevermind" on September 24th, 1991. This album was released over two years prior and marked pretty much the end of their decades worth of material.

[@barriem5318]

What a great song

[@franchise5000]

@MichaelJOlender : the wedding song off All Shook Down is "nobody". one of my favorites!

[@PeterMayer]

Great song.

[@reesetorwad8346]

Unspeakably good.

[@robertmcmanus9185]

For all of you who only love stuff like Takin' A Ride or Johnny's Gonna Die, take a big breath and consider that The Replacements can be something else. Different. Bob was the "essential Replacement" for some. But, remember that Paul wrote the songs. The band was definitely more than the sum of its parts, but this song shows such a beautiful tender side. All punks probably have that tender side. Some never show it. Paul was brave enough to not care and he let us see. That's about as punk as it ever gets folks, and don't forget that Paul started out this way even if he was nervous to let the other guys hear If Only You Were Lonely. It was such a great B-side. I saw the Lemonheads do it last year; thanks to Evan for that one! (I wish The Mats did it one of two times I saw them!). Sad some fans disregard some of the gems on this LP.

[@LyndaLand]

The perfect song for my kid! : )

[@mnadman223]

I didn't see it listed here. near the top. but this song is about Paul's sister Mary Lucia. She's a local DJ now on The Current. "she's always aching to be just like me" He also wrote another song on a later album called Merry Go Round. Both a little bit cruel. Achin to be an artist writing poems etc.

[@DeeHughes]

only 896 likes? WTF? This is a freaking classic.

[@Bix12]

Dee... most of the young kids these days don't even know what good music is...it's so sad. I compare the teens/young adults of today (for the majority, of course there are exceptions) with the kids in the 50's. Very conservative, kinda uptight....obedient, responsible young adults. Most everyone would see that and say that's a good thing. I see something different: carbon copy blank canvases, or lumps of clay, submissively allowing corporate authority to wrap them up in "smart" everything from vehicles to walls to refrigeraters to actual bio-tech implants to who knows? To mold them into the perfectly obedient, docile consumer - homogenous, uniform and predictable until individuality is a crime. No longer protected by personal freedoms and God-given rights, they are transformed into a commodity. And from cradle to grave they will experience life vicariously, through the "internet of things" (IoT) which will literally monitor them 24/7 while maintaining the absolute minimum one degree of separation from the (ex) real world. Make way for the new paradigm, the Information-Industrial Complex and Agenda 21 (for 21st century).

[@allsystemsgo8678]

If it makes you feel better it's now up to almost 400,000 views

[@danielc1978]

@@allsystemsgo8678 one year later, only 26 thousand more.....

[@stevefaure415]

Great song off a not-so-great album. This was really the first Westerberg solo album.

[@rightfromleft6071]

This really shows what Paul could sound like if he took the recording seriously and wasn't more concerned about being a cool drunk. It's a perfect song.

[@o0billie0o]

You know this song from the Pinhead Gunpowder cover but I fell in love with this version since I heard it.

[@deehughes4939]

so the chick running through the trees is apparently PW's sister Mary Lucia, who is now the afternoon dj on The Current in Minneapolis

[@ProudFilthyCasual]

Dee Hughes I think she made a name for herself to a degree on the scene writing or something for a pretty “big deal” music column in The Village Voice or some shit back in the day.

[@conorkennedy3304]

yeah. she's fantastically talented and kind of a music geek local celebrity.

[@kevvarney9226]

She's also the inspiration for the Replacements' song "Waitress In the Sky."

[@swaneman]

One of my favorite Mats songs.

[@jasonkucine26]

Very relaxing song

[@ClassicAlbumsLive]

Just yes

[@terrykesner5445]

Well I saw one of your pictures and there was nothing that I could see. If no one's on your canvas, then I m achin to be _ Paul Westerberg

[@andyc5392]

I only saw them once…at Duffy’s….they were so drunk it was pitiably to watch…(but we were drunken snobs too)…we were saying to each other…”these guys stink!”….eventually made it to a bathroom stall to take a leak…on the stall wall in wide black marker it said..”the Replacements Stink”…I feel quite assured that’s where the name of their album came from…in spite of this story, I think this song is an example of exemplary, sublime songwriting….

[@franchise5000]

@MichaelJOlender : the wedding song off All Shook Down is "nobody". one of my favorites! and you are so lucky to have seen the btw, i was 8 years old when the broke up lmao

[@brendendesimone9278]

I was 13 and barely heard about them. The next year 1992 was the first time I heard a Paul Westerberg song...bought the Singles soundtrack and played out Dyslexic Heart and Waiting for Somebody.

[@elpaxus]

Great Song

[@alwaysbeclosing66]

What I loved about the Replacements is they wrote live songs about not getting the girl

[@joseantonioalbarranleyva4740]

Awesome

[@chrispike1083]

Great lyrics!! I wonder what country artist will do a remake?

[@BlutoUSN]

I close my eyes and it all comes back. Say hello to Seattle for me...😏

[@wysoft]

don't tommy's eyebrows at 1:42 say it all.. even when these guys made a great music video, you could still tell even from their facial expressions they couldn't give less of a shit about it.

[@johnrunion5357]

this is one of the most beautifully shot videos of all time. i wonder what ever happened to the girl in black with white socks running down the hill at the video's end?

[@danoconn]

i think that might be his younger sister Mary Lucia. Shes a local DJ in Minneapolis now on 89.3 The Current.

[@johnrunion5357]

***** paul westerberg's younger sister??? or one of the other members of the band? thanks. that is the most information i have ever been able to discover about this video. back when it was on mtv it was never in heavy rotation. they only played it on programs like 120 minutes, etc. i just always loved this video, the song and how the video was shot. it really captured a moment in my life. back then i never envisioned something like youtube. i really felt like there would be a time when i would never get to see the video ever again. when mtv would play it i would always try to remember as many details about as i could. by this time many of the band's initial fans had abandoned them and the band had not reached another audience. i like all of their albums; don't tell a soul however seemed like it belonged to me. thanks again.

[@danoconn]

+John Runion Sorry yes Paul's younger sister. If you're a fan on the band i HIGHLY recommend the book Trouble Boys the true story of the replacements. One of the best books I've ever read. just came out a couple weeks ago.

[@johnrunion5357]

***** no worries. thank you for the clarification. yes, i have read about the book. it was written by someone who writes for the memphis commercial appeal newspaper. i live 100 miles north of memphis. the commercial appeal is where i often find things of pop culture which are of interest to me. recently i read an interview with the author about the book + i have listened to a short podcast where he discusses when he became interested in the band. the replacements are easily in my top ten all time favorite bands. thanks again. you're the best! take it easy...as we say down south.

[@johnrunion5357]

***** what is your favorite album by the replacements? mine is tim. tim is therefore naturally my favorite of their sire out put. let it be is my favorite twin tone release. they ever made a bad record; although i think all shook down should have been the first westerberg solo album.

[@amityboattours]

For someone special to me x

[@Roggiedodgie]

this song is very very nice

[@bradlafferty6076]

I give this song a Yes

[@joespencer3076]

Great music

[@joespencer3076]

Thank you

[@rockone1966]

Love love

[@jimmyrocks08]

Nice.

[@BillieJoeArmstrong17]

ive heard this with Pinhead Gunpowder, and both songs are just awesome :)

[@01DaveJr]

i'm 44 too. I concur.

[@thefourthwall6839]

this album needs a remix desperately

[@ferrallc1]

It exists. Dead Man Pop. It's not a remix. It's the original Matt Wallace mix.

[@oppothumbs1]

Phoenix in commercial for Joker looks like Paul does today. I've been achin' for a while now, friend I've been achin' hard for years

[@jonanjello]

My favorite Mats song

[@Loungeroomlizard65]

The first 3 seconds of this classic though....

[@9qwestvblog230]

This is the jam, I got on late but replacement for the beatles here

[@themats89]

So true how some us are sad.......

[@shashsrivas]

Westerberg is full of paradoxical lyrics.

[@timothyottman7685]

Westerberg=Genius

[@zimmermaniacs]

the ultimate popsong...