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,
Thanks Bastards!
Thank you Mr. Officer Grey (great?) for all the things you said to me, for all the good that you have ever done.
Will you, what would I be, all the gas upon my flames, my love and rage all roll up into one.
For everytime your gun goes off, and new rebel is born.
So when there's 41 bullets, there's 41 thousand thorns in your side
well take a ride down to precient 29, and we'll sing and dance and break the code of silence.
thank you governor
Thank you governor
to the mayor and
the commisioner
your monster is alive now
shes taken to the streets
crashing through your opra house and tearing at the seats
for all the times you sign your name, someone out there dies
found a wallet, not a gun
a mother's wife in tears
from her eyes
we despise
your hollow truths and honest lies
now you can sing the monster into slumber
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
I took the goods and ran X3
Homeland security Vs civil liberty
I'm studying in the shadows of our state
I seen the bones they tried to hide
cutthroat (?) other side
The Flood of US bath water is placed?
the funeral march of all the victims of your power war
rob the right to steal the night and rebels shall be born
for ever more your the storm we should play after it pours
and joy is sure to come after your silence. X2
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
I took the goods and ran X3
Thank you Mr. Officer Grey (great?) for all the things you said to me, for all the good that you have ever done.
Will you, what would I be, all the gas upon my flames, my love and rage all roll up into one.
For everytime your gun goes off, and new rebel is born.
So when there's 41 bullets, there's 41 thousand thorns in your side
well take a ride down to precient 29, and we'll sing and dance and break the code of silence.
thank you governor
Thank you governor
to the mayor and
the commisioner
your monster is alive now
shes taken to the streets
crashing through your opra house and tearing at the seats
for all the times you sign your name, someone out there dies
found a wallet, not a gun
a mother's wife in tears
from her eyes
we despise
your hollow truths and honest lies
now you can sing the monster into slumber
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
I took the goods and ran X3
Homeland security Vs civil liberty
I'm studying in the shadows of our state
I seen the bones they tried to hide
cutthroat (?) other side
The Flood of US bath water is placed?
the funeral march of all the victims of your power war
rob the right to steal the night and rebels shall be born
for ever more your the storm we should play after it pours
and joy is sure to come after your silence. X2
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
THANKS BASTARDS!
You made me what I am
THANKS BASTARDS!
I took the goods and ran
I took the goods and ran X3
Lyrics submitted by dirttaq
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Great song about the abuse of executive authority and how this causes the birth of more rebels/anti-authoritarians ("You made me what I am"), first talking about the police (the "41 bullets" part is a specific reference to the police murdering Amadou Diallo) and continuing with federal abuses of power.