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,
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
You'd better believe I'm coming
You'd better believe what I say
You'd better hold on to your promises, because
You bet you'll get what you deserve
She's going to leave him over
She's going take her love away
So much for your eternal vows
Well it does not matter anyway
Why can't you stay
Here awhile
Stay here awhile
Stay with me
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we made (promises we made)
All the meaningless and empty words I prayed
Prayed, prayed
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we broke (promises we broke)
All the meaningless and empty words I spoke
Spoke, spoke
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
What of all the things that you taught me
What of all the things that you'd say
What of all your prophetic preaching
You're just throwing it all away
Maybe we should burn the house down
Have ourselves another fight
Leave the cobwebs in the closet
'Cause tearing them out is just not right
Why can't you stay here awhile
Stay here awhile
Stay with me
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we made (promises we made)
All the meaningless and empty words I prayed
Prayed, prayed
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we broke (promises we broke)
All the meaningless and empty words I spoke
Spoke, spoke
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we made (promises we made)
All the meaningless and empty words I prayed
Prayed, prayed
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we broke (promises we broke)
All the meaningless and empty words I spoke
Spoke, spoke
Oh eh, oh eh, oh eh, oh eh, oh eh
Hey hey
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
You'd better believe I'm coming
You'd better believe what I say
You'd better hold on to your promises, because
You bet you'll get what you deserve
She's going to leave him over
She's going take her love away
So much for your eternal vows
Well it does not matter anyway
Why can't you stay
Here awhile
Stay here awhile
Stay with me
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we made (promises we made)
All the meaningless and empty words I prayed
Prayed, prayed
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we broke (promises we broke)
All the meaningless and empty words I spoke
Spoke, spoke
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
What of all the things that you taught me
What of all the things that you'd say
What of all your prophetic preaching
You're just throwing it all away
Maybe we should burn the house down
Have ourselves another fight
Leave the cobwebs in the closet
'Cause tearing them out is just not right
Why can't you stay here awhile
Stay here awhile
Stay with me
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we made (promises we made)
All the meaningless and empty words I prayed
Prayed, prayed
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we broke (promises we broke)
All the meaningless and empty words I spoke
Spoke, spoke
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we made (promises we made)
All the meaningless and empty words I prayed
Prayed, prayed
Oh, oh, oh
All the promises we broke (promises we broke)
All the meaningless and empty words I spoke
Spoke, spoke
Oh eh, oh eh, oh eh, oh eh, oh eh
Hey hey
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do
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the lyrics pretty much explain themselves. i love this song...i remember seeing it on tv loooong ago, but i never caught who sang it or what it was called. it was years later i heard it again and it all came rushing back to me..awesome song, holds alot of meaning, and truth.=)