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,
I hear you breathe as you sleep through the morning
And the sun cracks through winter’s wind
Screaming out an effervescent warning
That all that’s true is sure to end
But won’t you peel your pies to the TV screen
Won’t you read me your articles from your boring magazines
Which fill the spaces with your lipstick screams
Well, that’s all you ever gave, that’s all you ever gave to me
Sinking like a stone in the water all alone
You will not find me
Your reflection is the only sight you’ll see
A heart that has no memory
For all your tears they will drown you
And sink you for one million miles
And when the fear of life has finally found you
And crushes you inside the ocean tides
My ship will be sailing by
And the sun cracks through winter’s wind
Screaming out an effervescent warning
That all that’s true is sure to end
But won’t you peel your pies to the TV screen
Won’t you read me your articles from your boring magazines
Which fill the spaces with your lipstick screams
Well, that’s all you ever gave, that’s all you ever gave to me
Sinking like a stone in the water all alone
You will not find me
Your reflection is the only sight you’ll see
A heart that has no memory
For all your tears they will drown you
And sink you for one million miles
And when the fear of life has finally found you
And crushes you inside the ocean tides
My ship will be sailing by
Lyrics submitted by girlboyrevolt
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This song is very good, but, like I Want You Dead said, in a different way than most of Jeff's songs. It's great to listen to as you're drifting into sleep.