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,
This is no great illusion
When I'm with you I'm looking for a ghost
Or invisible reasons
To fall out of love and run screaming from our home
Because we live in a house of mirrors
We see our fears and everything
Our songs, faces, and second hand clothes
But more and more we're suffering
Not nobody, not a thousand beers
Will keep us from feeling so all alone
But you are what you love
And not what loves you back
That's why I'm here on your doorstep
Pleading for you to take me back
The phone is a fine invention
It allows me to talk endlessly to you
About nothing disguising my intentions
Which I'm afraid, my friend, are wildly untrue
It's a sleight of hand, a white soul band
The heart attacks I'm convinced I have
Every morning upon waking
To you I'm a symbol or a monument
Your rite of passage to fulfillment
But I'm not yours for the taking
But you are what you love
And not what loves you back
So I guess that's why you keep calling me back
I'm fraudulent, a thief at best
A coward who paints a bullshit canvas
Things that will never happen to me
But at arms length, it's Tim who said
I'm good at it, I've mastered it
Avoiding, avoiding everything
But you are what you love, Tim
And not what loves you back
And I'm in love with illusions
So saw me in half
I'm in love with tricks
So pull another rabbit out of your hat
When I'm with you I'm looking for a ghost
Or invisible reasons
To fall out of love and run screaming from our home
Because we live in a house of mirrors
We see our fears and everything
Our songs, faces, and second hand clothes
But more and more we're suffering
Not nobody, not a thousand beers
Will keep us from feeling so all alone
But you are what you love
And not what loves you back
That's why I'm here on your doorstep
Pleading for you to take me back
The phone is a fine invention
It allows me to talk endlessly to you
About nothing disguising my intentions
Which I'm afraid, my friend, are wildly untrue
It's a sleight of hand, a white soul band
The heart attacks I'm convinced I have
Every morning upon waking
To you I'm a symbol or a monument
Your rite of passage to fulfillment
But I'm not yours for the taking
But you are what you love
And not what loves you back
So I guess that's why you keep calling me back
I'm fraudulent, a thief at best
A coward who paints a bullshit canvas
Things that will never happen to me
But at arms length, it's Tim who said
I'm good at it, I've mastered it
Avoiding, avoiding everything
But you are what you love, Tim
And not what loves you back
And I'm in love with illusions
So saw me in half
I'm in love with tricks
So pull another rabbit out of your hat
Lyrics submitted by lessadventurous
You Are What You Love Lyrics as written by Jenny Lewis
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i interpreted the "you are what you love and not what loves you back" kinda similarly to the idea that you have to define yourself based on your own standards, not as others see you/through someone else's eyes or by their standards. you are what YOU love, you are defined by your actions, your loves, your emotions and not those reciprocated by others (what loves you back).
"And I'm in love with illusions So saw me in half" One of my favorite song lyrics.
I love Jenny Lewis. She's incredible.
i think that
"We see our fears and everything Our songs, faces, and secondhand clothes"
seems to make more sense as:
we see our fears IN everything- our songs, faces, and secondhand clothes" ? just a small adjustment but yeah.
You can't help who you fall for, like, love, feel an instant connection with, it just IS. But sometimes they aren't the best people for you. People have their own problems, separate from your own problems. But it also say a lot about you depending on who you are WITH and what you are willing o put up with. Also just because that person is fucked up doesn't mean you are as fucked up as them. I guess we accept the love we deserve. BUT we should be with people who think we awesome for who we are instead of just settling
You can't help who you fall for, like, love, feel an instant connection with, it just IS. But sometimes they aren't the best people for you. People have their own problems, separate from your own problems. But it also say a lot about you depending on who you are WITH and what you are willing o put up with. Also just because that person is fucked up doesn't mean you are as fucked up as them. I guess we accept the love we deserve. BUT we should be with people who think we awesome for who we are instead of just settling
You can't help who you fall for, like, love, feel an instant connection with, it just IS. But sometimes they aren't the best people for you. People have their own problems, separate from your own problems. But it also say a lot about you depending on who you are WITH and what you are willing o put up with. Also just because that person is fucked up doesn't mean you are as fucked up as them. I guess we accept the love we deserve. BUT we should be with people who think we awesome for who we are instead of just settling
God I love this song. Jenny Lewis is such a good song writer.
brilliant
The song has a sort of upbeat rythm, and i like the message of it, it's simple, but it says a lot. "You are what you love And not what loves you back"
she is really coming into her own, ain't she? rilo kiley is great but there's something more personal about this.