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,
Hello you, how was the rest,
You made it through but never the less,
I got you out on a wire, you be love and ill be a liar.
Tell it all and fill up the air, but make it loud cause nobodies there
Nobodies there, nobodies there
Stop, turn, take a look around,
At all of the lights and sounds,
Let them bring you in
Slow, burn, let it all fade out
And pull the curtain down,
Wonder where you've been
Make it new but stay in the lines, just let go,
Keep it inside, smile big for everyone, even when you know what they've done.
They gave you the end but not where to start, not how to build, how to tare it apart,
So Tell it all and fill up the air, but make it loud cause nobodies there,
Nobodies there, nobodies there
Stop, turn, take a look around,
At all of the lights and sounds,
Let them bring you in
Slow, burn, let it all fade out,
And pull the curtain down,
Wonder where you've been
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way
Stop, turn, take a look around,
At all of the lights and sounds,
Let them bring you in
Slow, burn, let it all fade out
And pull the curtain down,
Wonder where you've been
You've earned everything you've found and painted faces frown,
I'll say I knew you when
You made it through but never the less,
I got you out on a wire, you be love and ill be a liar.
Tell it all and fill up the air, but make it loud cause nobodies there
Nobodies there, nobodies there
Stop, turn, take a look around,
At all of the lights and sounds,
Let them bring you in
Slow, burn, let it all fade out
And pull the curtain down,
Wonder where you've been
Make it new but stay in the lines, just let go,
Keep it inside, smile big for everyone, even when you know what they've done.
They gave you the end but not where to start, not how to build, how to tare it apart,
So Tell it all and fill up the air, but make it loud cause nobodies there,
Nobodies there, nobodies there
Stop, turn, take a look around,
At all of the lights and sounds,
Let them bring you in
Slow, burn, let it all fade out,
And pull the curtain down,
Wonder where you've been
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way and you know how
I've got a way to work this out, I got a way
Stop, turn, take a look around,
At all of the lights and sounds,
Let them bring you in
Slow, burn, let it all fade out
And pull the curtain down,
Wonder where you've been
You've earned everything you've found and painted faces frown,
I'll say I knew you when
Lyrics submitted by lostprophet86
Lights and Sounds Lyrics as written by Peter Michael Mosely Longineu Warren Iii Parsons
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think I'm the only one that thinks this way but I'll give it a go:
To quote one of the member's reviews of the albums, he said that Ocean Avenue was all about discovering yourself, Lights and Sounds was losing yourself to the real world, and Paper Walls was redefining yourself in the real world.
With that in mind, I categorize each album as Romanticism (Ocean Avenue), Realism (Lights and Sounds), and a mix of between (Paper Walls). Following that I say that this is a GREAT introduction to the album as it slaps Romanticism in the face with such lines as "You be love and I'll be a liar. Tell it all and fill up the air but make it loud, cause nobody's there." Meaning you can romanticize all you want in your own fantasies but it will get you nowhere. Then it gets to "Stop. Turn. Take a look around. At all the lights and sounds." Be realistic and take what you have. "You gave it an end but not where to start. Not how to build but how to tear it apart." You know what there will be a happy ending but you have no idea how to get there.
"I've got a way to work this out." -being realistic allows you to be pragmatic.