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,
You and I, we're the same as each other
Can't stand to think we're the same as each other
So come over to mine and we'll drink some beer
Get on a bus and get the fuck out of here
Follow a star to a new messiah
Slit his throat for the good of the unborn,
Generations tripped the wire
Made off with our hearts desire
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
You're just like cinderella
On the screen in technicolor
Off the chart, you'll be going stellar
You'll be the pepsi cola seller
With lips so full and moist
All your friends'll be queuing up to tell you
"you've got such a lovely voice".
You've got such a lovely voice
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
And people die when towers fall
I've tried but I hardly even care at all
I've seen you angry and I've seen you cry
Life goes fitfully flitting by
And I would love to climb a barricade
Like every other boy you know
But the wars at home have been betrayed
By too many boys on barricades
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
So spare me a thought when you're old and you're finished
A listing wreck off greenwich village
Write me a letter that I'll never reply to
You know what I'm like better than I do
Tell me about how you sleep at night
Tell me about your consolations
Lie to me, say you still fight
Tell me death will be alright, oh
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
Life is sweet.
Can't stand to think we're the same as each other
So come over to mine and we'll drink some beer
Get on a bus and get the fuck out of here
Follow a star to a new messiah
Slit his throat for the good of the unborn,
Generations tripped the wire
Made off with our hearts desire
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
You're just like cinderella
On the screen in technicolor
Off the chart, you'll be going stellar
You'll be the pepsi cola seller
With lips so full and moist
All your friends'll be queuing up to tell you
"you've got such a lovely voice".
You've got such a lovely voice
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
And people die when towers fall
I've tried but I hardly even care at all
I've seen you angry and I've seen you cry
Life goes fitfully flitting by
And I would love to climb a barricade
Like every other boy you know
But the wars at home have been betrayed
By too many boys on barricades
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
So spare me a thought when you're old and you're finished
A listing wreck off greenwich village
Write me a letter that I'll never reply to
You know what I'm like better than I do
Tell me about how you sleep at night
Tell me about your consolations
Lie to me, say you still fight
Tell me death will be alright, oh
We've never had it so good
Never had it so good
We've never had it so good,
Life is sweet.
Life is sweet.
Lyrics submitted by Noli
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Love the video to this. Having a protest about the fact that everything is quite alright really.