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,
Hey sister, have you heard?
Some people stand like trees, without a word
And what that means is that some people don't talk.
Oh please pardon me mister.
Ya know I just didn't hear you the first time that you said that,
But now that you repeat for me, I'll be sure to do what I can.
Ya know I'm going to do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gonna do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
Oh please pardon me father.
Ya know I just didn't hear you that, that, that
That first time that you said th...
Help me, help me, help me, help me...
Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it.
I'll be sure do, do, do what I can.
Do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance. (4 times)
I had so much on my mind.
I was so glad when I died, oh...
Listen to me baby.
Can you keep a secret for me?
Make sure no one finds out,
Cause then the lights will go out,
And I will find you out,
And I will cut you up.
Uh hmm, don't ask me why,
Because, I said, I said, I said
I'm gonna do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. (3 times)
But I'll have none of that, you understand?
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know nothin'? You ain't never going to tell on someone.
What you going to do?
Gonna turn, gonna turn rat fink?
What you want to do?
Do want to see, do you want to see what it's like to sink?
Sink down, sink down, sink down, down, down to the bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down, to the bottom of the river, sink, down sink.
Sink down, down. Down, down to bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down to the bottom of the river.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone. (3 times)
Ah, ah, oh, I tell you what it's like, I tell you what it's like, oh.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell. (3 times)
I stood right up in the heart of Hell,
I'm never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Ah...
Some people stand like trees, without a word
And what that means is that some people don't talk.
Oh please pardon me mister.
Ya know I just didn't hear you the first time that you said that,
But now that you repeat for me, I'll be sure to do what I can.
Ya know I'm going to do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gonna do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
Oh please pardon me father.
Ya know I just didn't hear you that, that, that
That first time that you said th...
Help me, help me, help me, help me...
Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it.
I'll be sure do, do, do what I can.
Do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance. (4 times)
I had so much on my mind.
I was so glad when I died, oh...
Listen to me baby.
Can you keep a secret for me?
Make sure no one finds out,
Cause then the lights will go out,
And I will find you out,
And I will cut you up.
Uh hmm, don't ask me why,
Because, I said, I said, I said
I'm gonna do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. (3 times)
But I'll have none of that, you understand?
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know nothin'? You ain't never going to tell on someone.
What you going to do?
Gonna turn, gonna turn rat fink?
What you want to do?
Do want to see, do you want to see what it's like to sink?
Sink down, sink down, sink down, down, down to the bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down, to the bottom of the river, sink, down sink.
Sink down, down. Down, down to bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down to the bottom of the river.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone. (3 times)
Ah, ah, oh, I tell you what it's like, I tell you what it's like, oh.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell. (3 times)
I stood right up in the heart of Hell,
I'm never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Ah...
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despite the words "father" and "sister," i don't think this song deals with family dysfunction. most of the referents ("sink down to the bottom of the river," "gonna turn rat fink?," "then the lights will go out") point to organized crime and the importance of keeping silent in that context. but the lines "Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone," combined with Gano's whiney, repetitive vocal performance give a strong impression of a schoolyard setting for the song. this makes the most sense to me, seeing as the aforementioned references to gangland violence are all cliches which any kid might pick up from watching TV or movies.
in any case, this is a pretty chilling and brilliant piece. whether the tirade is ostensibly against whistle-blowers in the mafia, schoolyard, family or elsewhere, it repels us with its threatening and simple-minded taunts one minute and displays shocking conviction the next. it's hard not to admire the crook who belts out in the final section, "I stood right up in the heart of hell--I never tell!"