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,
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
Everybody's gotta love some one
But I just wanna love you dear
Everybody's gotta feel something
But I just want to be with you, my dear
I know it's hard
I know it's hard
I know it's hard to be in this position
If they stop loving you
I won't stop loving you
If they stop needing you
I'll still need you, my dear
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
You've gotta believe me
When I say
When I say the word forever
And whatever
Comes your way
Oh we'll still be together
I know it's hard
I know it's hard
But I understand you, just take my hand
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
Everybody's gotta love some one
But I just wanna love you dear
Everybody's gotta feel something
But I just want to be with you, my dear
I know it's hard
I know it's hard
I know it's hard to be in this position
If they stop loving you
I won't stop loving you
If they stop needing you
I'll still need you, my dear
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
You've gotta believe me
When I say
When I say the word forever
And whatever
Comes your way
Oh we'll still be together
I know it's hard
I know it's hard
But I understand you, just take my hand
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
If you fall asleep down by the water
Baby I'll carry you, all the way home
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I think drumsss is right. Of course everyone's still free to interpret it another way, but here's what I think:
If you fall asleep down by the water baby I'll carry you all the way home.
Pretty self explanatory, he tells his lover that he'll be there for him no matter what happens.
everybody's gotta love some one but i just wanna love you dear everybody's gotta feel something but i just want to be with you, my dear
He knows he's gotta love girls, but he's only able to love and have feelings his (male) lover.
i know it's hard i know it's hard i know it's hard to be in this position if they stop loving you i won't stop loving you if they stop needing you i'll still need you, my dear
This refers to his lover coming out to his family. The singer know it's hard since he himself is gay and had/has to go through it. He tells his lover that it doesn't matter if his lovers fiends and family reject him (stop loving/needing him) because he'll still love and need him no matter what. By saying this he also makes clear that he really loves him and therefore it's worth fighting for their love
you've gotta believe me when i say when i say the word forever and whatever comes your way oh we'll still be together
The singer believes their love will exist forever. He also tells his lover that, no matter what/who'll try to separate them (for example their homophobic family/friends), they'll stick together cause their love is stronger than their hate.
i know it's hard i know it's hard but i understand you, just take my hand
He tells his lover again that he knows it's hard to be gay and have to handle with the rejection that comes with it, but he'll be there for him and make up the sadness others cause :)