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,
Well I spent last night in Las Cruces Jail.
Raining hail, born to fail.
Nobody come for to go my bail.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Well I shot one man on the county line.
Took his dime and I blew his mind.
Now I'm just sittin' here doin' time.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Well a restless wind is whistling through the windows in my head,
Through all the scrapes that I've survived.
And in my hour of darkness I keep counsel with the dead,
Just enough to remind me I'm alive.
Well I write to the governor for to hear my plea
But he don't even answer me.
The judge said he's gonna set my spirit free.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Gavel fell, he chose the day,
Cattle tie, thirteenth of May.
But I don't plan to go that way.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Goodnight my Anda-Lucia.
Don't buy all the lies that they feed ya.
And though you're heading slowly to some place I can't respect,
I'll keep you in my collection of regrets.
And that's twenty-one fell by my gun, oh, they all fell the same.
Just need one more to match my age.
Then I'll count my killin' done. but I won't deny my name:
Quickest wrist of chaparral and sage.
Now desperate times call for desperate men,
I'm just a kid but I'll pretend my time will come but until then,
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Well I see that gallows altar, that circle 'round the Sun.
They're gonna hang me if I stay here, and shoot me if I run.
That jailer better watch his pride
Or off my wrists these shackles slide.
Hear my restless forty-five.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Goodnight my Anda-Lucia.
Don't buy all the lies that they feed ya.
And though you're heading slowly to some place I can't respect,
I'll keep you in my collection of regrets.
And down the highway, down the road, to infamy I'll ride.
I'll take my pardon on the run,
With a trail of death behind me and Deluvina at my side,
Two silhouettes against the Sun.
Well I spent last night in Las Cruces Jail.
Raining hail, born to Fail.
Nobody come for to go my bail.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Raining hail, born to fail.
Nobody come for to go my bail.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Well I shot one man on the county line.
Took his dime and I blew his mind.
Now I'm just sittin' here doin' time.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Well a restless wind is whistling through the windows in my head,
Through all the scrapes that I've survived.
And in my hour of darkness I keep counsel with the dead,
Just enough to remind me I'm alive.
Well I write to the governor for to hear my plea
But he don't even answer me.
The judge said he's gonna set my spirit free.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Gavel fell, he chose the day,
Cattle tie, thirteenth of May.
But I don't plan to go that way.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Goodnight my Anda-Lucia.
Don't buy all the lies that they feed ya.
And though you're heading slowly to some place I can't respect,
I'll keep you in my collection of regrets.
And that's twenty-one fell by my gun, oh, they all fell the same.
Just need one more to match my age.
Then I'll count my killin' done. but I won't deny my name:
Quickest wrist of chaparral and sage.
Now desperate times call for desperate men,
I'm just a kid but I'll pretend my time will come but until then,
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Well I see that gallows altar, that circle 'round the Sun.
They're gonna hang me if I stay here, and shoot me if I run.
That jailer better watch his pride
Or off my wrists these shackles slide.
Hear my restless forty-five.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
Goodnight my Anda-Lucia.
Don't buy all the lies that they feed ya.
And though you're heading slowly to some place I can't respect,
I'll keep you in my collection of regrets.
And down the highway, down the road, to infamy I'll ride.
I'll take my pardon on the run,
With a trail of death behind me and Deluvina at my side,
Two silhouettes against the Sun.
Well I spent last night in Las Cruces Jail.
Raining hail, born to Fail.
Nobody come for to go my bail.
Sun, don't you rise no more.
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yeah...this is the first song i heard of two gallants...i fall in love straightway!!