Blister in the Sun

"Blister in the Sun" is a song by American rock band the Violent Femmes, released on their 1982 debut The Violent Femmes. A popular song in the annals of indie rock and a modest hit when it was released, the insanely catchy tune has since passed into the canon of Western popular music and become a standard.

Acording to lead singer Gordon Gano, this song is not about masturbation as popularly thought. He wrote this song about a girl he had a crush on in high school.

Gordon was sensitive about his small hands, and on the first day of school a girl came up to him, held his hands in the air, and exclaimed "LOOK WHAT SMALL HANDS HE HAS". So, he wrote the song from the perspective of a girl lusting after a boy with big hands. This would explain the "big hands I know you're the one" line.

In 2005, it became the first English language track to ever be allowed on RnaG, the Republic of Ireland Irish language radio station. The song also features on the soundtrack of the 1997 film Grosse Pointe Blank.

In 2005, it was voted the Most Essential song of all time by radio station Triple M, in their massive 2005 Most Essential songs countdown.

CTY Tradition

'Blister in the Sun' by Violent Femmes is one of the Canon in many sites. At Lancaster (and elsewhere?) during the 'soft' section, many get on their knees and drum with their hands on the ground, and at the sound of "Let me go on" spring up.

At Siena, during the 'soft' section, dancers go lower and lower to the ground until they're lying down, then spring to their feet, in a similar tradition to Lancaster's.

Lyrics

Blister in the Sun, by The Violent Femmes

When I'm out walking I strut my stuff yeah I'm so strung out
I'm high as a kite I just might stop to check you out
Let me go on like I blister in the sun
Let me go on big hands I know your the one

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
Let me go on like I blister in the sun
Let me go on big hands I know your the one...