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,
The sixth sense of memory
Runs a river near a road
That travels up the parkway,
Getting frozen in the snow
Where what you see is what you see is what you see...
And only some will know
Where the ragged people go.
Where the boozehounds, they bay,
By the banks of the reservoir.
Crows climb higher
From their old familiar yard.
The best thing in heaven
Is supposed to be the sun
That shines between two mountains
And melts the Devil's gun,
But what you see is what you see is what you see...
And only some will know
Where the ragged people go.
Down here on Kipling,
Where the streetlamps light the way, hey,
There's talk of a reunion
Of the ones who didn't stay.
Why didn't they stay here
And help me shovel the walk?
(Why didn't they stay here?)
Sick sense of melody
Is what I hear when I'm alone.
And I love it more than misery,
And I love it more than home,
And I cry 'cause I'm not with it,
Even though I've never been...
Where the dope fiends laugh
And say it's too soon,
They all go home and listen to
The Dark Side of the Moon.
Runs a river near a road
That travels up the parkway,
Getting frozen in the snow
Where what you see is what you see is what you see...
And only some will know
Where the ragged people go.
Where the boozehounds, they bay,
By the banks of the reservoir.
Crows climb higher
From their old familiar yard.
The best thing in heaven
Is supposed to be the sun
That shines between two mountains
And melts the Devil's gun,
But what you see is what you see is what you see...
And only some will know
Where the ragged people go.
Down here on Kipling,
Where the streetlamps light the way, hey,
There's talk of a reunion
Of the ones who didn't stay.
Why didn't they stay here
And help me shovel the walk?
(Why didn't they stay here?)
Sick sense of melody
Is what I hear when I'm alone.
And I love it more than misery,
And I love it more than home,
And I cry 'cause I'm not with it,
Even though I've never been...
Where the dope fiends laugh
And say it's too soon,
They all go home and listen to
The Dark Side of the Moon.
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First post. I haven't done a lot of searching as to the meaning here, only allowed the song itself and the reactions it invokes in me to guide my interpretation. To me, it's a metaphor for life itself, especially those of artists or anyone following their passions, which are as we know, often pretty self-destructive. I could very well be entirely off base, but I think this one is very personal from Martin's point of view. What really affects me is the reaction - intense sadness - I get nearly every time I listen to it in sequence with the album. The song feels like a denouement of the album's theme to me, and an acknowledgment of one's powerlessness over the weaknesses and failures in life. Dope & booze = love of music in this case. Doesn't seem especially hopeful or uplifting, but I love it anyway.
Anyone able to interpret this more clearly? The line "Even though I've never been" seems to throw a wrench into my theory.