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,
And if I gave you the sun
Would you take it home
And if I gave you a gun
Would you feel alone?
And if I bothered you much
Then tell me to walk away
away
Away
Away
throw me a loan to stop all the stones
I would steal you the flesh to sew on you're bones
And if you show me a sign then I'm gonna die for you
for you
For you
For you
and so I have to say
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
Bt there'll be hell to pay
blow all the clothes
They never appear
And if you ever got sad
I would choke on you're tears
So you shud show me the line
I'm standing behind for you
coz I've been a vagrant
Who lives in a basement
And every single day I try to replace it
So show me a sign
And I'm telling you one last time
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
But there'll be hell to pay
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
But there'll be hell to pay
No pain, no blood, no oxygen
No breaks, no cuts, no sentences
No time, no way, to work this in
So where do I begin
so if you gave me a loan
Id give it all back
And if you wanna get stoned
I won't stop you from that
but if you wanna believe
That I got a need for you
for you
For you
that's all I have to say
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
But there'll be hell to pay
But there'll be hell to pay
But there'll be hell to pay
But there'll be hell to pay
Repeat to fade
Would you take it home
And if I gave you a gun
Would you feel alone?
And if I bothered you much
Then tell me to walk away
away
Away
Away
throw me a loan to stop all the stones
I would steal you the flesh to sew on you're bones
And if you show me a sign then I'm gonna die for you
for you
For you
For you
and so I have to say
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
Bt there'll be hell to pay
blow all the clothes
They never appear
And if you ever got sad
I would choke on you're tears
So you shud show me the line
I'm standing behind for you
coz I've been a vagrant
Who lives in a basement
And every single day I try to replace it
So show me a sign
And I'm telling you one last time
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
But there'll be hell to pay
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
But there'll be hell to pay
No pain, no blood, no oxygen
No breaks, no cuts, no sentences
No time, no way, to work this in
So where do I begin
so if you gave me a loan
Id give it all back
And if you wanna get stoned
I won't stop you from that
but if you wanna believe
That I got a need for you
for you
For you
that's all I have to say
maybe someday
Ill come
Maybe someday
Ill go
I know my way takes me home
But there'll be hell to pay
But there'll be hell to pay
But there'll be hell to pay
But there'll be hell to pay
Repeat to fade
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song is tremendous...the build up to the ending is mesmorizing and the way he changes the tone of his voice whne he keeps repeating "but there'll be hell to pay" is especially awesome. The guitar riff that drives the verses and the bridge is one of the best I've ever heard. This is a fairly upbeat song - it really is.