This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Don't count your chickens
'Cause they're never gonna hatch
You can't catch a monkey with a shotgun and a sack
'cause you're too dull baby
You can't see the wood for the trees
'Cause you're too slow baby
You just couldn't get off your knees
Don't count your chickens
'Cause they're never gonna hatch
You can't catch a monkey with a shotgun and a sack
'Cause you're too dull baby
You can't see the wood for the trees
'Cause you're too slow baby
You just couldn't get off your knees
I can see the love and the hate in your eyes
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
What you gonna do and what you gonna say?
I'm not the only one believing there's an easier way
It doesn't pay to disorientate me
It doesn't cost to be someone
I am the vine
And you're the branches
Don't knock a young man
you don't know what he'll get done
You can't kick and old man see what he's become
You are far too lazy
You stick to your pillow with ease
'Cause you're much too lazy
you just couldn't get off your knees
I can see the love and the hate in your eyes
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
What you gonna do and what you gonna say?
I'm not the only one believing there's an easier way
It doesn't pay to disorientate me
It doesn't cost to be someone
I am the vine
And you're the branches
Don't count your chickens
'Cause they're never gonna hatch
You can't catch a monkey with a shotgun and a sack
'Cause you're too dull baby
You can't see the wood for the trees
'Cause you're too slow baby
You just couldn't get off your knees
I can see the love and the hate in your eyes
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
What you gonna do and what you gonna say?
I'm not the only one believing there's an easier way
What'ya gonna do with the rest of your life
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
I am the vine
And you're the branches
'Cause they're never gonna hatch
You can't catch a monkey with a shotgun and a sack
'cause you're too dull baby
You can't see the wood for the trees
'Cause you're too slow baby
You just couldn't get off your knees
Don't count your chickens
'Cause they're never gonna hatch
You can't catch a monkey with a shotgun and a sack
'Cause you're too dull baby
You can't see the wood for the trees
'Cause you're too slow baby
You just couldn't get off your knees
I can see the love and the hate in your eyes
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
What you gonna do and what you gonna say?
I'm not the only one believing there's an easier way
It doesn't pay to disorientate me
It doesn't cost to be someone
I am the vine
And you're the branches
Don't knock a young man
you don't know what he'll get done
You can't kick and old man see what he's become
You are far too lazy
You stick to your pillow with ease
'Cause you're much too lazy
you just couldn't get off your knees
I can see the love and the hate in your eyes
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
What you gonna do and what you gonna say?
I'm not the only one believing there's an easier way
It doesn't pay to disorientate me
It doesn't cost to be someone
I am the vine
And you're the branches
Don't count your chickens
'Cause they're never gonna hatch
You can't catch a monkey with a shotgun and a sack
'Cause you're too dull baby
You can't see the wood for the trees
'Cause you're too slow baby
You just couldn't get off your knees
I can see the love and the hate in your eyes
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
What you gonna do and what you gonna say?
I'm not the only one believing there's an easier way
What'ya gonna do with the rest of your life
Penny for the thoughts behind your disguise
I am the vine
And you're the branches
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