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,
(I'm still)
This room gets smaller with every coat of paint.
Nobody ever got better this way, hey, hey.
(I'm still, hey, hey)
It's been two mean seasons
they say you won't come back,
they say a girl who's decent would long be in her blacks by now.
But I'm no young widow
like they're calling me in town
I'll leave the light on in your window
if I have to burn the whole thing down.
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow
After they turned the power out,
after the candle sticks burned down,
I burned the furniture, the picture frames, all the fabric in the house.
I turned to photographs,
your voice came through the cold,
last words you said to soothe my nervousness,
"Keep one light on, I'll always find my way"
I tore the pages from your books
wall paper down,
and then I took myself upstairs,
and your straight razor to my braids
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow
When I exhausted all the tinder,
the house was dark for days.
Since I thought to remove the oven door,
I've been kneeling here to guard this flame.
The neighbors have stopped calling
now their children come throw stones,
and the papers from the bankers
say they doubt you're coming home.
They found a man you know,
a drifter in the barn last year.
While I was sleeping,
must have made it to the house,
they found him frozen in your clothing dear.
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow
This room gets smaller with every coat of paint.
Nobody ever got better this way, hey, hey.
(I'm still, hey, hey)
It's been two mean seasons
they say you won't come back,
they say a girl who's decent would long be in her blacks by now.
But I'm no young widow
like they're calling me in town
I'll leave the light on in your window
if I have to burn the whole thing down.
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow
After they turned the power out,
after the candle sticks burned down,
I burned the furniture, the picture frames, all the fabric in the house.
I turned to photographs,
your voice came through the cold,
last words you said to soothe my nervousness,
"Keep one light on, I'll always find my way"
I tore the pages from your books
wall paper down,
and then I took myself upstairs,
and your straight razor to my braids
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow
When I exhausted all the tinder,
the house was dark for days.
Since I thought to remove the oven door,
I've been kneeling here to guard this flame.
The neighbors have stopped calling
now their children come throw stones,
and the papers from the bankers
say they doubt you're coming home.
They found a man you know,
a drifter in the barn last year.
While I was sleeping,
must have made it to the house,
they found him frozen in your clothing dear.
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow
Lyrics submitted by liesnevermiss
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This song is really something, so much more than just "rap". More like spoken word poetry that just happens to sound great with that killer beat.
The narrator seems so desperate--so hinged on the need for her husband to return home. She depends on his return, so much that she'll kill herself to be the "beacon in the snow." Overall beautiful, if not a little heartrending.