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,
Hurray for
A child that makes it through
If there's any way
Because the answer lies in you
They're laid to rest
Before they've known just what to do
Their souls are lost
Because they could never find
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
I see your soul, it's kind of gray
You see my heart, you look away
You see my wrist, I know your pain
I know your purpose on your plane
Don't say a last prayer
Because you could never find
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle the score
'Cause we all live
Under the reign of one king
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle no Goddamn score
'Cause we all live under the reign
I said, you know, of
One king
One king
One king
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle no Goddamn score
'Cause we all live under the reign
I said, you know, of
One king
One king
One king
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle no Goddamn score
'Cause we all live under the reign
Of one king
A child that makes it through
If there's any way
Because the answer lies in you
They're laid to rest
Before they've known just what to do
Their souls are lost
Because they could never find
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
I see your soul, it's kind of gray
You see my heart, you look away
You see my wrist, I know your pain
I know your purpose on your plane
Don't say a last prayer
Because you could never find
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
What's this life for
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle the score
'Cause we all live
Under the reign of one king
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle no Goddamn score
'Cause we all live under the reign
I said, you know, of
One king
One king
One king
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle no Goddamn score
'Cause we all live under the reign
I said, you know, of
One king
One king
One king
But they ain't here anymore
Don't have to settle no Goddamn score
'Cause we all live under the reign
Of one king
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Great song!