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,
My ups are downs, and my downs are ups, The Boer War cant save me now. Today is the grand opening of the carnival, sanity won't accept me now.
The lights reflect the children's faces, and the moon illuminates the bumper car's races. While the carni's commandeer their rides, the stars above continue to shine.
Leaving you with nothing left, but pain and anguish and time to fret.
The night is young and the lines are restless, anticipation fills the crowd.
Darkness takes over, engulfing the carnival... I've been released by pain.
Saddness' shown so many faces, and depression comes in many phases. Yet they don't seem to acknowledge my cries out for a better life. And sensitivity has lost its drive, when reality becomes a crime.
Leaving you with nothing left, but pain and anguish and time to fret.
The smiles of the weilders' faces, compensate for the torturous stages of bandages and broken pride, collapsed dignity and constant fright. Entertaining kids has lost its value, when their blinks and winks become blind.
The lights reflect the children's faces, and the moon illuminates the bumper car's races. While the carni's commandeer their rides, the stars above continue to shine.
Leaving you with nothing left, but pain and anguish and time to fret.
The night is young and the lines are restless, anticipation fills the crowd.
Darkness takes over, engulfing the carnival... I've been released by pain.
Saddness' shown so many faces, and depression comes in many phases. Yet they don't seem to acknowledge my cries out for a better life. And sensitivity has lost its drive, when reality becomes a crime.
Leaving you with nothing left, but pain and anguish and time to fret.
The smiles of the weilders' faces, compensate for the torturous stages of bandages and broken pride, collapsed dignity and constant fright. Entertaining kids has lost its value, when their blinks and winks become blind.
Lyrics submitted by A Vacant Andy
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