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,
Shut your fucking mouth.
You don't know a single thing about me.
So I heard what you said when he walked away.
Don't you think I can add up the numbers.
It's a sour taste.
A knowledge I wish would never have gained.
So you think you could match me?
Well these are the things I see.
A perfect body. A twisted mind.
Starvation and loathing.
We fuck 'til it bleeds.
Stratch claw and scream.
'Til it feels like I'm almost alive...
/ These are the words to justify / All against all
I'm so sick and tired of it. Treat me like meat.
Tear me to pieces and feed the dogs.
A thousand polite tiny lies
and I memorized every single one of them.
Did you think for a second I'd give you a taste -
well I'm sorry to say:
You could turn yourself inside out - I'd still walk away.
Repeat chorus
Broken promises
Like ashes through my fingers
It eats away my senses and my soul
I wither - perhaps I said too much?
I just want somebody I can trust
Repeat chorus
You don't know a single thing about me.
So I heard what you said when he walked away.
Don't you think I can add up the numbers.
It's a sour taste.
A knowledge I wish would never have gained.
So you think you could match me?
Well these are the things I see.
A perfect body. A twisted mind.
Starvation and loathing.
We fuck 'til it bleeds.
Stratch claw and scream.
'Til it feels like I'm almost alive...
/ These are the words to justify / All against all
I'm so sick and tired of it. Treat me like meat.
Tear me to pieces and feed the dogs.
A thousand polite tiny lies
and I memorized every single one of them.
Did you think for a second I'd give you a taste -
well I'm sorry to say:
You could turn yourself inside out - I'd still walk away.
Repeat chorus
Broken promises
Like ashes through my fingers
It eats away my senses and my soul
I wither - perhaps I said too much?
I just want somebody I can trust
Repeat chorus
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Very very good song. They really did a great job with this one.