‘Blister in the Sun’ is a song by American rock band Violent Femmes, originally released on their 1983 self-titled debut album. It was later released as a promo single in 1997 after its inclusion in the film Grosse Pointe Blank. A live promo single was released in 1999 in promotion of the live album Viva Wisconsin.
The song was written by Violent Femmes vocalist Gordon Gano. The drum lick was written by Victor DeLorenzo; the song was his first performance with the band. Gano originally wrote the song for a female vocalist. The lyrics to ‘Blister in the Sun’ reference drug use. After the song was released, a misinterpretation arose that the lyrics were about masturbation. In a 2013 interview with The Village Voice, Gano said: “I don’t think there’s a whole lot to understand with the lyrics. In fact, it was maybe 10 or 15 years later, when somebody was asking me about that song and said something like, “Well, you know… You know what that song’s about.” I’m like, “No. What are you talking about?” “Well everybody knows. You wrote it.” I’m like, “What?” And they told me the song was about masturbation. I had never thought of that.”
The line, "Big hands I know you're the one" is in the song because Gano has small hands. In the song, he's in a self-loathing state where he knows the girl is just going to take up with some big-handed guy.
In 1997, the song was featured prominently in the film Grosse Pointe Blank. John Cusack had initially requested an updated version of the song, which led to the band recording a new, slower arrangement that featured saxophones, strings and other instruments. This version of the song was dubbed "Blister 2000". However, Cusack eventually decided he wanted to include the original version of the song as well. Because the original master tapes of the band's debut album had long been disposed of, they decided to record a new version of the original 1983 arrangement. Both these versions were released as part of a promotional CD single in 1997. Neither of these rerecorded versions appear in the actual film, although a new music video, directed by Evan Bernard, was created for the new recording of the 1983 arrangement. It features Gordon Gano as a deranged assassin trying to kill Socks the cat in puppet form, interspersed with clips from the film.
The song had a cult following and was favorite on American college radio in the '80s. In the early '90s, as "alternative" and "modern rock" radio stations went on the air, it got a lot of airplay because it was considered a classic of the genre. The album gradually sold over one million copies and earned the Violent Femmes a formidable fan base. The Violent Femmes album went Gold four years after its release and reached Platinum sales status four years later, despite never reaching the top 150 of the Billboard 200 album chart.
Label – Slash
Songwriter – Gordon Gano
Producer – Mark Van Hecke
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]When I'm out walking, I strut my stuff
Yeah, and I'm so strung out
I'm high as a kite, I just might
Stop to check you out
[Chorus]
Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know you're the one
[Verse 2]
Body and beats, I stain my sheets
I don't even know why
My girlfriend, she's at the end
She is starting to cry
[Chorus]
Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know you're the one
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 1]
When I'm out walking, I strut my stuff
Yeah, and I'm so strung out
I'm high as a kite, I just might
Stop to check you out, mm-na-na, mm-na-na
When I'm out walking, I strut my stuff
Yeah, and I'm so strung out
And I'm high as a kite, I just might
Stop to check you out, mm-na, mm-na
[Verse 2]
Body and beats, I stain my sheets
I don't even know why
My girlfriend, she's at the end
She is starting to cry
[Verse 1]
When I'm out walking, I strut my stuff
Yeah, and I'm so strung out
And I'm high as a kite, I just might
Stop to check you out
[Chorus]
Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know you're the one