The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
A groan of tedium escapes me
Startling the fearful
Is this a test? It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on
Draining patience, drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient (wait it out)
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
Gonna wait it out
If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may, I still may
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
And if there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may
And I still may
And I still may
And I
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Startling the fearful
Is this a test? It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on
Draining patience, drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient (wait it out)
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
Gonna wait it out
If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may, I still may
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
And if there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may
And I still may
And I still may
And I
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
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Yo La Tengo
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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.
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Great song.