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,
Where you been? Ain't you for weeks
You been hanging out with all those jesus freaks
Oh yeah and I feel like giving in
And where were you, when I wanted to work? You were still
In bed
You're a total jerk
There's a place for abstract and there's a place for
Noise and there's a place for every kind of sound so come
On now and tell me why there's a void
It's all my fault, yes I'm to blame
Ain't got no money, ain't got no fame
And that's why, I feel like giving in
And all those songs, like crystal ball, dismantled king
You know I love them all
But oh, I still feel like giving in.
You been hanging out with all those jesus freaks
Oh yeah and I feel like giving in
And where were you, when I wanted to work? You were still
In bed
You're a total jerk
There's a place for abstract and there's a place for
Noise and there's a place for every kind of sound so come
On now and tell me why there's a void
It's all my fault, yes I'm to blame
Ain't got no money, ain't got no fame
And that's why, I feel like giving in
And all those songs, like crystal ball, dismantled king
You know I love them all
But oh, I still feel like giving in.
Lyrics submitted by vchamberlain
Ballad Of The Band Lyrics as written by Lawrence Hayward
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Lawrence Hayward is really talking about himself and the frustration about not being recognized by the public has a great pop song writer.
*as a great song writer.
*as a great song writer.