• Track: Helpless
• Artist: Sugar
• Album: Copper Blue
• Year: 1992

Lyrics:

Another time, time after time
You make me feel so helpless, I
I never tried to change your mind
I keep it to myself, it’s…

Sometimes I’ve got to tell you
Is it this time I’ll tell you
We’ve got to go to places
Somewhere I don’t mind it’s special

Another time, time after time
You make me feel so helpless

And now you find as time goes by
You’re left with nothing
Meaning much
The meaning I will have to try
To take your mind to places

I wish that I could help you
But you seem less than helpless
I always tried to tell you
Someday, that it’d seem so special

Time after time what’s on your mind
You make me feel so helpless, I…
You never tried what’s on your mind
You make me feel so helpless, I…
I feel so helpless, I…

You’re left alone with something
And I hope for you it’s one thing
That something you and yours can
Hold and hold as something special

And now you find as time goes by
You’re left with nothing meaning much
The meaning I will have to try
What’s on your mind so helpless, I…
I feel so helpless, I…

Music phenom Bob Mould is one of the best-kept secrets in modern music. Today, he performs as a soloist—and we here at the Dances with Bass studios have a healthy collection of his solo records—but he started his career in the late 1970s with punk-rock band Hüsker Dü. While Hüsker Dü wasn’t my particular cup of tea, Sugar hit all the good spots in the early- to mid-1990s. After leaving Hüsker Dü, Mould produced a couple of solo albums, one of which—Workbook—is a desert island record for me. In 1992, he formed Sugar with bassist David Barbe (ex-Mercyland) and drummer Malcolm Travis.

Sugar’s Copper Blue album was a darling of the critics and was named Album of the Year by NME (New Musical Express) magazine. Helpless reached number 5 on the mainstream rock chart, but Copper Blue also spawned a pair of hits in the UK, If I Can’t Change Your Mind and A Good Idea. For what it’s worth, if you’ve ever been in a relationship in which your significant other won’t trust you no matter what you do (or don’t do) If I Can’t Change Your Mind will hit home.

Sugar released two full-length records, an EP, and a compilation of B-sides and rarities before Mould went back to his solo career. As a soloist, he has released 13 records. He played guitar on the Foo Fighters’ track, Dear Rosemary, from the Wasting Light album. In late 2017, Mould opened for the Foos on its Concrete and Gold tour.

Video:

Here is Bob Mould and Sugar performing Helpless:

From the same album comes this excellent cut, Your Favorite Thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsAyegnKWI4&list=RDZsAyegnKWI4&t=4

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