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,
It was me on that road
But you couldn't see me
Too many lights out, but nowhere near here
It was me on that road
Still you couldn't see me
And then flashlights and explosions
Roads end getting nearer
We cover distance but not together
I am the storm and I am the wonder
And the flashlights, nightmares
And sudden explosions
I don't know what more to ask for
I was given just one wish
It's about you and the sun
A morning run
The story of my maker
What I have and what I ache for
I've got a golden ear
I cut and I spear
What else is there?
Roads end getting nearer
We cover distance still not together
If I am the storm, if I am the wonder
Will I have flashlights, nightmares
And sudden explosions
There's no room where I can go and
You've got secrets too
I don't know what more to ask for
I was given just one wish
But you couldn't see me
Too many lights out, but nowhere near here
It was me on that road
Still you couldn't see me
And then flashlights and explosions
Roads end getting nearer
We cover distance but not together
I am the storm and I am the wonder
And the flashlights, nightmares
And sudden explosions
I don't know what more to ask for
I was given just one wish
It's about you and the sun
A morning run
The story of my maker
What I have and what I ache for
I've got a golden ear
I cut and I spear
What else is there?
Roads end getting nearer
We cover distance still not together
If I am the storm, if I am the wonder
Will I have flashlights, nightmares
And sudden explosions
There's no room where I can go and
You've got secrets too
I don't know what more to ask for
I was given just one wish
Lyrics submitted by royksopp, edited by pavelkomarov, vind
What Else Is There? Lyrics as written by Tony Macaulay Roger John Reginald Greenaway
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ACUM Ltd., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I never would have figured it out myself, but I agree this is about an accident. "A morning run" - she was going for a run in the morning while it was still dark. I think the milk in the video is just symbolic of blood. I wonder if her wish was to meet the person that hit her, and that was the woman at the table. "You've got secrets too" - maybe it was a hit and run? It sounds to me like the whole song is her talking to her killer, and now that she's met that person she doesn't know what else to do or say.
I'm wondering what does the "golden ear" mean? Is that line correct?
You've got it. The white liquid was used to get past censorship rules. A golden ear of corn can be eaten with two hands or by cutting with a knife and speared with a fork, if you don't have both hands. The woman was looking out her window at a lightning storm, instead of watching the road. She was probably drinking and maybe returning from a rendezvous with a secret lover. She's in a distant rehab facility, unable to go to any room in her own home.
The jogging woman is in the reahab facility. The OOBE ability was the result of her wish to get answers.
@BalisongAbraxas Golden ear is like the golden voice!\r\nMeans, she has excellent hearings, like the golden voice, person has beautiful voice!\r\n>I\'ve got a golden ear\r\nI cut an i spear\r\nAnd what else is there ???<\r\nHas good hearings, cuts and spears good (refer to hunting?),\r\nbut then - what else is there? - in this material world?