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,
Hiked up to Sydney in the week before Christmas
It was thirty-eight degrees in the shade
I bought a second-hand Morris for a cheap two-twenty
And I drove it down to Adelaide
She boiled for an hour twenty miles out of Euston
I thought that it would never end
But I knew I'd be home for Christmas with my Sandy
And a few extra dollars to spend
I'm home and broken hearted
Well I've been pasted to the telephone
When Boxing Day break was wasted sitting here on my own
The beer we bought for Christmas ran dry this afternoon
And on the radio it's New Year's Eve
What a low down time of the year to pack your luggage and leave
Well I drove it to the buyer just as fast as I could go
I was talking to his teenage son
I sure hope it lasted for the poor little bastard
At least until he'd had some fun
I caught a taxi home with great anticipation
Thinkin' all you have to do is try
There was a note propped up against the dressing table mirror
"Dear Jimmy, it's over, goodbye!"
I'm home and broken hearted
Well I've been pasted to the telephone
When Boxing Day break was wasted sitting here on my own
The beer we bought for Christmas ran dry this afternoon
And on the radio it's New Year's Eve
What a low down time of the year to pack your luggage and leave
Yeah
Don't leave me pain
I went to a party, tried to drink myself happy
The steaks were washed away in the rain
Finished up in bed with an old acquaintance
She'll never be my friend again
And everyone was asking me where's the little woman
Rolled home before the rain could stop
And I've been sitting for days reading pre-Christmas papers
With my heels on the table-top
I'm home and broken hearted
Well I've been pasted to the telephone
When Boxing Day break was wasted sitting here on my own
Oh the beer we bought for Christmas ran dry this afternoon
On the radio it's New Year's Eve
What a low down time of the year to pack your luggage and leave
Yeah
Don't leave me baby, wuh
It was thirty-eight degrees in the shade
I bought a second-hand Morris for a cheap two-twenty
And I drove it down to Adelaide
She boiled for an hour twenty miles out of Euston
I thought that it would never end
But I knew I'd be home for Christmas with my Sandy
And a few extra dollars to spend
I'm home and broken hearted
Well I've been pasted to the telephone
When Boxing Day break was wasted sitting here on my own
The beer we bought for Christmas ran dry this afternoon
And on the radio it's New Year's Eve
What a low down time of the year to pack your luggage and leave
Well I drove it to the buyer just as fast as I could go
I was talking to his teenage son
I sure hope it lasted for the poor little bastard
At least until he'd had some fun
I caught a taxi home with great anticipation
Thinkin' all you have to do is try
There was a note propped up against the dressing table mirror
"Dear Jimmy, it's over, goodbye!"
I'm home and broken hearted
Well I've been pasted to the telephone
When Boxing Day break was wasted sitting here on my own
The beer we bought for Christmas ran dry this afternoon
And on the radio it's New Year's Eve
What a low down time of the year to pack your luggage and leave
Yeah
Don't leave me pain
I went to a party, tried to drink myself happy
The steaks were washed away in the rain
Finished up in bed with an old acquaintance
She'll never be my friend again
And everyone was asking me where's the little woman
Rolled home before the rain could stop
And I've been sitting for days reading pre-Christmas papers
With my heels on the table-top
I'm home and broken hearted
Well I've been pasted to the telephone
When Boxing Day break was wasted sitting here on my own
Oh the beer we bought for Christmas ran dry this afternoon
On the radio it's New Year's Eve
What a low down time of the year to pack your luggage and leave
Yeah
Don't leave me baby, wuh
Lyrics submitted by deranged_66
Home and Broken Hearted Lyrics as written by Donald Hugh Walker Donald Walker
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Amazing, no comments, this has always been my favorite track from Cold Chisel Cold Chisel.
Just about a man's road trip to sydney and all the experiences he had, also a slight tongue in cheek love story "Finished up in bed with an old acquaintance, She'll never be my friend again"
"Finished up in bed with an old acquaintance, She'll never be my friend again"
My favourite line in the song
i think its a real love tragedy this song. jimmy obviously screws up a lot so he tries to get some extra money for christmas to make his wife happy, but when he gets home shes left him. he gets drunk and sleeps around some more but it doesn't make him feel any better. he even reads newspapers from before she left in the hope it will bring her back. the real tragedy is those steaks that washed away in the rain.