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,
I know the reasons you shy
Away from things you can't explain
But if you make it alive
I cannot, can never finally say
You should have taken that road
You should have gone the other way
So tell me are you finding that road hard to take?
If you are the choices, all that I've given up
And the one to make it all real
If you are the voice that takes me to heaven
Why can't I feel
Anything more than all of this nothing
Anything less than all of this pain
If you are the one to make me feel something
Why am I afraid?
You said, "I'll take it in stride"
You said, "I'll take it sight unseen"
But, now you do realize
That you cannot, can never ever leave
But they will believe it in time
They will exist to hear you say
It's mine, I made it alive
And I will stay...
If you are the choices, all that I've given up
And the one to make it all real
If you are the voice that takes me to heaven
Why can't I feel
Anything more than all of this nothing
Anything less than all of this pain
If you are the one to make me feel something
Why am I afraid?
Oh I have given everything I have
Oh I have given everything I have...
I am the voice you can't hide
I am the life you still try to live
I'll never leave you alone with your pride
'Cause I am awake alive on the inside...
If you are the choices, all that I've given up
And the one to make it all real
If you are the voice that takes me to heaven
Why can't I feel
Anything more than all of this nothing
Anything less than all of this pain
If you are the one to make me feel something
Why am I afraid?
Away from things you can't explain
But if you make it alive
I cannot, can never finally say
You should have taken that road
You should have gone the other way
So tell me are you finding that road hard to take?
If you are the choices, all that I've given up
And the one to make it all real
If you are the voice that takes me to heaven
Why can't I feel
Anything more than all of this nothing
Anything less than all of this pain
If you are the one to make me feel something
Why am I afraid?
You said, "I'll take it in stride"
You said, "I'll take it sight unseen"
But, now you do realize
That you cannot, can never ever leave
But they will believe it in time
They will exist to hear you say
It's mine, I made it alive
And I will stay...
If you are the choices, all that I've given up
And the one to make it all real
If you are the voice that takes me to heaven
Why can't I feel
Anything more than all of this nothing
Anything less than all of this pain
If you are the one to make me feel something
Why am I afraid?
Oh I have given everything I have
Oh I have given everything I have...
I am the voice you can't hide
I am the life you still try to live
I'll never leave you alone with your pride
'Cause I am awake alive on the inside...
If you are the choices, all that I've given up
And the one to make it all real
If you are the voice that takes me to heaven
Why can't I feel
Anything more than all of this nothing
Anything less than all of this pain
If you are the one to make me feel something
Why am I afraid?
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
not my fave gavin song by far.. sounds kinda 90's 'poppy' no feeling in the lyrics at all.
I have to disagree with you, cause I really like this song and it's absolutely on of my favorites! :)
I think this one has a lot of emotion! It seems like someone who deals with a lot (maybe depression?) and he falls in love with someone who finally starts to feel great things, but he's terrified. If I'm in the right mood this song can actually make me cry. ;P
I think this one has a lot of emotion! It seems like someone who deals with a lot (maybe depression?) and he falls in love with someone who finally starts to feel great things, but he's terrified. If I'm in the right mood this song can actually make me cry. ;P