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,
In a razor town
You take whoever you think you can keep around.
There's an echoed sound
That permeates the sidewalk where she shuffles 'round.
It's a big machine.
It used to be the avenue of changing dreams.
She's a lonely thing,
Sweeping up the glitter while she pulls the strings.
Take a long last look
Before she turns to stone
What the last man took
And what was long, long gone.
The way it used to be,
I wasn't there to see it working properly.
Now it seems to me
Both of you are suffering.
I've heard her say
That you're the only reason she's alive today.
I just turned away
Thinking maybe she was right.
So say your last goodbye.
Make it short and sweet
There ain't no way to fly
With her hanging on your feet.
Let her go out if she wants to.
If she don't, go out yourself.
Don't take sorry for an answer
Unless you really want what's left.
'Cause in a razor town
The only thing that matters tends to bring you down.
There's no way around,
But maybe you can barrel through
'Cause a razor ain't no good for you.
You take whoever you think you can keep around.
There's an echoed sound
That permeates the sidewalk where she shuffles 'round.
It's a big machine.
It used to be the avenue of changing dreams.
She's a lonely thing,
Sweeping up the glitter while she pulls the strings.
Take a long last look
Before she turns to stone
What the last man took
And what was long, long gone.
The way it used to be,
I wasn't there to see it working properly.
Now it seems to me
Both of you are suffering.
I've heard her say
That you're the only reason she's alive today.
I just turned away
Thinking maybe she was right.
So say your last goodbye.
Make it short and sweet
There ain't no way to fly
With her hanging on your feet.
Let her go out if she wants to.
If she don't, go out yourself.
Don't take sorry for an answer
Unless you really want what's left.
'Cause in a razor town
The only thing that matters tends to bring you down.
There's no way around,
But maybe you can barrel through
'Cause a razor ain't no good for you.
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"..in a razor town the only thing that matters tends to bring you down..."
Great.