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,
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Ships are docking, planes are landing
A never ending supply
No more narco, no more gangster
Conservatives can cry
I took the law and threw it away
'Cause there's nothing wrong, it's just for play
There's no law, no law anymore
I want to steal from the rich and give to the poor
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Keep it glowing, glowing, glowing
I'm not hurting anyone
Keep it glowing, smoking, glowing
I'm howling at the moon
I took the law and threw it away
'Cause there's nothing wrong, it's just for play
There's no law, no law anymore
I want to steal from the rich and give to the poor
Winter turns to summer
Sadness turns to fun
Keep the faith, baby
You broke the rules and won
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Oh baby, oh baby
Oh baby, oh baby
I took the law and threw it away
'Cause there's nothing wrong it's just for play
I'm smoking, baby
I'm smoking, oh baby
There's no law, no law anymore
I want to steal from the rich and give to the poor
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Ships are docking, planes are landing
A never ending supply
No more narco, no more gangster
Conservatives can cry
I took the law and threw it away
'Cause there's nothing wrong, it's just for play
There's no law, no law anymore
I want to steal from the rich and give to the poor
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Keep it glowing, glowing, glowing
I'm not hurting anyone
Keep it glowing, smoking, glowing
I'm howling at the moon
I took the law and threw it away
'Cause there's nothing wrong, it's just for play
There's no law, no law anymore
I want to steal from the rich and give to the poor
Winter turns to summer
Sadness turns to fun
Keep the faith, baby
You broke the rules and won
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Oh baby, oh baby
Oh baby, oh baby
I took the law and threw it away
'Cause there's nothing wrong it's just for play
I'm smoking, baby
I'm smoking, oh baby
There's no law, no law anymore
I want to steal from the rich and give to the poor
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la-la
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I love this song, probably has lots meanings. SOunds to be a bit like Robin Hood-a badass who doesn't care about the law and robs the rich to give to the poor-kick ass man
This song was in the incredible indie Canadian film-ROAD KILL. JOEY RAMONE WAS ALSO IN THIS FILM