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,
When the angels came down
Did they give you a choice?
Would they have let you stay where you were?
Not to live here in pain
Should not bring you shame
And the light is so hard to deter
Well did the gates of heaven
Look just as you thought?
Did Sister Mary describe them quite well?
Years of Catholic school were all good to you
Because you were the angel who fell
And I am the one who will never die young
I am a martyr and I cannot hide
But I'm not a winner
I am just brilliantly bitter
I'm sealed by my skin
But broken inside
Angels are fragile
And devils are hot
And life is a masquerade
Colors will blend
And hearts will all mend
Just tell me you were never afraid
'Cause I am the one who will never die young
I am a martyr and I cannot hide
But I'm not a winner
I am just brilliantly bitter
I'm sealed by my skin
But broken inside
And there are babies laughing
And children running
And they say "read me a book, oh sing me a song,"
And I was the one who I felt so, so sorry for
But you are the one who is gone
So will you save me a seat
If I make it that far?
Will you even know
That I am the one?
I will be old
For the angels have told me
That I will never die young
'Cause I am the one who will never die young
I am a martyr and I cannot hide
But I'm not a winner
I am just brilliantly bitter
I'm sealed by my skin
But broken inside
And I will be old
For the angels have told me
That I will never die young
I'll never die young
Did they give you a choice?
Would they have let you stay where you were?
Not to live here in pain
Should not bring you shame
And the light is so hard to deter
Well did the gates of heaven
Look just as you thought?
Did Sister Mary describe them quite well?
Years of Catholic school were all good to you
Because you were the angel who fell
And I am the one who will never die young
I am a martyr and I cannot hide
But I'm not a winner
I am just brilliantly bitter
I'm sealed by my skin
But broken inside
Angels are fragile
And devils are hot
And life is a masquerade
Colors will blend
And hearts will all mend
Just tell me you were never afraid
'Cause I am the one who will never die young
I am a martyr and I cannot hide
But I'm not a winner
I am just brilliantly bitter
I'm sealed by my skin
But broken inside
And there are babies laughing
And children running
And they say "read me a book, oh sing me a song,"
And I was the one who I felt so, so sorry for
But you are the one who is gone
So will you save me a seat
If I make it that far?
Will you even know
That I am the one?
I will be old
For the angels have told me
That I will never die young
'Cause I am the one who will never die young
I am a martyr and I cannot hide
But I'm not a winner
I am just brilliantly bitter
I'm sealed by my skin
But broken inside
And I will be old
For the angels have told me
That I will never die young
I'll never die young
Lyrics submitted by delial
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Oh my god- this song is fucking amazing. I can think of no reasons whatsoever that Lori isnt huge. There lyrics are so powerful; in my opinion the song is about someone who commited suicide which is extremely personal to me so this song means a whole hell of a lot