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 its cold in here when you're all in tears
Your vision is in black and white, you feel so afraid
You fail to show your better half, its such a shame
Tomorrows dream never comes, it remains in shades
Remains in shades
Sticks and stones break my bones and it hurts too much
Easy come and easy go, in love and war all seems fair
But\'s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
Now I am holding ground
Now I am safe and sound
But its the last straw that breaks my back and life\'s too short
Handsome is as handsome does and there\'s so much more
A change is good as rest they say and all that glitters is not gold
Now I am holding ground
Now I am safe and sound
No way I found love sane and sound
And its cold in here when you're all in tears
Those endless nights of intrigues make it all too clear
In this dark world and wide I am innocent
I am innocent
Your vision is in black and white, you feel so afraid
You fail to show your better half, its such a shame
Tomorrows dream never comes, it remains in shades
Remains in shades
Sticks and stones break my bones and it hurts too much
Easy come and easy go, in love and war all seems fair
But\'s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
Now I am holding ground
Now I am safe and sound
But its the last straw that breaks my back and life\'s too short
Handsome is as handsome does and there\'s so much more
A change is good as rest they say and all that glitters is not gold
Now I am holding ground
Now I am safe and sound
No way I found love sane and sound
And its cold in here when you're all in tears
Those endless nights of intrigues make it all too clear
In this dark world and wide I am innocent
I am innocent
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