"You're Getting Married"

 

 

First released as a bonus track on the 2008 reissue of "Stink," and then again, buried deep on 2021's deluxe boxed set of "Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash," Paul Westerberg's solo demo "You're Getting Married" is an intense piece of work. This popped up while my iPod was doing the shuffle a few weeks ago and it left me frozen in my subway seat as I made my way into the Manhattan.

The rest of the band hated it, with Bob Stinson telling Paul to "save it for your solo album." But listening to it a few more times since it first surprised me on that train made me realize two things- Westerberg doesn't get talked about enough when discussing songwriters and I miss him.

 

You're like a guitar in the hands
Of a man that just can't play
You're like an inmate countin' off the days
You're like a student on vacation
That's waitin' for school to resume
Like a flower in the dark,
Never gonna bloom

You're getting married
You're getting married
You're getting married--oh no...

Well, you say that you'll both be real happy
You forgot to tell your eyes
You're like a bird in a cage
Watchin' the flock fly on by
You're like a student who's on vacation
Just waitin' for school to start
I don't know what's in it for you,
But it ain't in your heart...

You're getting married
You're getting married
You're getting married--oh no.oh no...

You're like a guitar in the hands
Of some fool that just can't play
You're like an inmate countin' off the days
Well, you say that you'll both be happy
Hey, you forgot to tell your eyes
You're like a bird in a cage
Watchin' the flock fly on by

You're like a student on vacation
Just waitin' for school to resume
You're like a flower in the dark,
You ain't never gonna bloom
If you get married
If you get married
Don't you get married
No, no, no no...