Add it Up (8:34)

Add It Up is the fourth track from the Violent Femmes self-titled debut album.

Lead singer, songwriter, violinist and guitarist Gordon Gano reflects on the writing of the song: “I was in my bedroom — that’s where I wrote it — feeling frustrated. I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. It just happened to feel good lyrically . . . and it still does.”

The song’s title was used for a Violent Femmes compilation album, Add It Up (1981-1993).

Of note, the song was covered by Ethan Hawke’s character (and his band Hey That’s My Bike) in the film Reality Bites. It was also covered on both cello and piano (along with other Violent Femmes tracks) in the 2007 film Rocket Science.

Additionally, the song is played recurrently throughout the film Lost and Delirious.