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
we're all souls just trying to connect with
someone, but we're all
left searching on our own
Tell me that you could hear it
three taps under the floorboard.
Don't say I'm losing it,
maybe you're deaf
Could have sworn
that I locked
all these windows fairly tight.
Shut the door
hear a knock.
She starts turning off the lights
And from the corner of my eye
I saw you dressed all in white
I saw you pass right by
But maybe I had too much wine
I hope you come back tonight
You never said goodbye
Tell me that you could see it
A ghost who's skin is porcelain
Don't say I'm losing it
Maybe you're blind
Saw her walk
through a wall,
turn her head and look at me
In a York hotel hall
I am falling to my knees
Softly as your dress flows
you say that you're alone.
I know I can't leave you
Lonely on your own (Tell me that you hear it)
On your own (Tell me that you can see it, girl)
On your own (Tell me that you can hear it)
On your own (Tell me that you can see it, girl)
On your own (Tell me that you oh...)
we're all souls just trying to connect with
someone, but we're all
left searching on our own
Tell me that you could hear it
three taps under the floorboard.
Don't say I'm losing it,
maybe you're deaf
Could have sworn
that I locked
all these windows fairly tight.
Shut the door
hear a knock.
She starts turning off the lights
And from the corner of my eye
I saw you dressed all in white
I saw you pass right by
But maybe I had too much wine
I hope you come back tonight
You never said goodbye
Tell me that you could see it
A ghost who's skin is porcelain
Don't say I'm losing it
Maybe you're blind
Saw her walk
through a wall,
turn her head and look at me
In a York hotel hall
I am falling to my knees
Softly as your dress flows
you say that you're alone.
I know I can't leave you
Lonely on your own (Tell me that you hear it)
On your own (Tell me that you can see it, girl)
On your own (Tell me that you can hear it)
On your own (Tell me that you can see it, girl)
On your own (Tell me that you oh...)
Lyrics submitted by floz2323, edited by lukeeffect
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After a few years of listening to this band i found they can be both cryptic and upfront with their music. I used to think this song was about a failed relationship but now i'm leaning towards the inability to forget a lost love.
He starts off on a heavier note saying we all live our lives alone searching for someone to share them with. The next verse shows he's haunted the memories of a lost love.
He can't get her out of his head even though he "locked all these windows fairly tight" trying to forget and move on but no matter how hard she still works his way into his head after "she starts turning off the lights".
In the next verse he "sees her in the corner of his eye" "dressed in white". It shows that he doesn't even have to fixate the memory of her to remember how beautiful and perfect she is dressed in white, a color associated with purity. He drowns himself in his sorrows fixating on her, hoping she find her way back to him.
"tell me that you could see it" rings throughout song almost like hes trying to convince himself shes not just a delusion. Even though she's merely a memory "a ghost whose skin is porcelain" shows he sees her as beautiful as ever did.
He fixates on her until he's sure he can see her ghostly figure glance at him from down a hall. That glance could mean so many things to him.
The last verse is my favorite. she says she lonely and he won't allow it asking those same questions until either she silences him with a kiss or by leaving
The instrumental to the song is also