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 old friend,
Lives up in the mountains
He flew up there to paint the world
He says, "Even though interpretation's what I count on, this little picture to me seems blurred"
"Hard lines and the shadows come easy
I see them all just as clear as a bell
I just can't seem to set my easel to please me;
I paint my Heaven, but it looks like Hell"
[Chorus:]
Your blue might be gray, your less might be more
Your window to the world might be your own front door
Your shiniest day might come in the middle of the night
That's just about right
He says, "Man, I ain't comin' down 'til my picture is perfect
And all the wonder has gone from my eyes"
Down through my hands and onto the canvas,
Still like my vision but still a surprise"
"Real life", he says, "is the hardest impression
It's always movin' so I let it come through"
"And that", I say, "is the glory of true independence" "Just do what you do what you just gotta do"
[Chorus]
Your blue might be gray, your less might be more
Your window to the world might be your own front door
Your shiniest day might come in the middle of the night
That's just about right
My friend came down from the mountain
Without even looking, he found a little truth
"You can go through life with the greatest intentions; but you do what you do what you just gotta do" (Yeah)
[Chorus: x2]
Your blue might be gray, your less might be more
Your window to the world might be your own front door
Your shiniest day might come in the middle of the night
That's just about right
Lives up in the mountains
He flew up there to paint the world
He says, "Even though interpretation's what I count on, this little picture to me seems blurred"
"Hard lines and the shadows come easy
I see them all just as clear as a bell
I just can't seem to set my easel to please me;
I paint my Heaven, but it looks like Hell"
[Chorus:]
Your blue might be gray, your less might be more
Your window to the world might be your own front door
Your shiniest day might come in the middle of the night
That's just about right
He says, "Man, I ain't comin' down 'til my picture is perfect
And all the wonder has gone from my eyes"
Down through my hands and onto the canvas,
Still like my vision but still a surprise"
"Real life", he says, "is the hardest impression
It's always movin' so I let it come through"
"And that", I say, "is the glory of true independence" "Just do what you do what you just gotta do"
[Chorus]
Your blue might be gray, your less might be more
Your window to the world might be your own front door
Your shiniest day might come in the middle of the night
That's just about right
My friend came down from the mountain
Without even looking, he found a little truth
"You can go through life with the greatest intentions; but you do what you do what you just gotta do" (Yeah)
[Chorus: x2]
Your blue might be gray, your less might be more
Your window to the world might be your own front door
Your shiniest day might come in the middle of the night
That's just about right
Lyrics submitted by KungFuChica
That's Just About Right Lyrics as written by Jeffrey Allen Black
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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no matter what you do, or once you think you have a grip on the world, it will just throw another curve ball at you
Such a beautirful song, one of the few country songs I actually like. Obviously, it's about how we see things in life. Things are allways changing, and what we expect doesn't allways happen. I think the main theme of this song is to take things as they happen and not allways look to the future.
His old friend, lives up in the mountain, because he is living with his head in the clouds. He wants to paint a perfect picture of the world, but can't seem to do it, no matter how hard he tries.
The chorus talks about interpretation. Your blue might be gray, less might be more, etc. Life is full of surprises.
One day, he came down from the mountains and realized that no matter how ideal he wants to see things, you just gotta be more realistic and live the life you got.