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,
If love was this door, I've slammed it in your face, ran out to the balcony and jumped to the ground.
I've sponged the place in gasoline before igniting the foundation and burning it to ashes.
to ashes...
If love was a plane, then I've flown it to the highest point, but then let it come crashing down to earth.
Fasten your seatbelts, we're going down now.
If love was a child then I've scolded him to no end.
He's been filled the nothing inside,
until the day when bullets filled the emptiness inside him from his own gun, from his own hands.
Love became the pill that stopped his shakes.
He's never crossed a man's face so hard.
Love became the pill that put him under.
He's never scratched a man's heart so deep.
If love was born to die then I've buried him six feet under.
if you take the one and minus him by two, you've got the end of the world before its even begun.
Although I've murdered his whole heart, I can revive him with my own two hands.
I've sponged the place in gasoline before igniting the foundation and burning it to ashes.
to ashes...
If love was a plane, then I've flown it to the highest point, but then let it come crashing down to earth.
Fasten your seatbelts, we're going down now.
If love was a child then I've scolded him to no end.
He's been filled the nothing inside,
until the day when bullets filled the emptiness inside him from his own gun, from his own hands.
Love became the pill that stopped his shakes.
He's never crossed a man's face so hard.
Love became the pill that put him under.
He's never scratched a man's heart so deep.
If love was born to die then I've buried him six feet under.
if you take the one and minus him by two, you've got the end of the world before its even begun.
Although I've murdered his whole heart, I can revive him with my own two hands.
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This sounds more of a religous song.
"I can revive him with my own two hands."
Such as in praying