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,
You by the light
Is the greatest find
In the world full wrong
You're the thing that's right
Finally made it
Through the lonely
To the other side
You said it again
My heart's in motion
Every word feels like a shooting star
I'm at the edge
Of my emotions
Watching the shadows burning in the dark
And I'm in love
And I'm terrified
For the first time
In the last time
In my only life
And this could be good
It's already better than that
And nothing's worse
Than knowing you're holding back
I could be all
That you needed
If you let me try
You said it again
My heart's in motion
Every word feels like a shooting star
I'm at the edge
Of my emotions
Watching the shadows burning in the dark
And I'm in love
And I'm terrified
For the first time
In the last time
In my only
I only said it 'cause I mean it
I only mean 'cause it's true
So don't you doubt what I've been dreaming
'Cause it fills me up
And holds me close
Whenever I'm without you
You said it again
My heart's in motion
Every word feels like a shooting star
Watching the shadows burning in the dark
And I'm in love
And I'm terrified
For the first time
In the last time
In my only life
Life
Life
In my only life
Is the greatest find
In the world full wrong
You're the thing that's right
Finally made it
Through the lonely
To the other side
You said it again
My heart's in motion
Every word feels like a shooting star
I'm at the edge
Of my emotions
Watching the shadows burning in the dark
And I'm in love
And I'm terrified
For the first time
In the last time
In my only life
And this could be good
It's already better than that
And nothing's worse
Than knowing you're holding back
I could be all
That you needed
If you let me try
You said it again
My heart's in motion
Every word feels like a shooting star
I'm at the edge
Of my emotions
Watching the shadows burning in the dark
And I'm in love
And I'm terrified
For the first time
In the last time
In my only
I only said it 'cause I mean it
I only mean 'cause it's true
So don't you doubt what I've been dreaming
'Cause it fills me up
And holds me close
Whenever I'm without you
You said it again
My heart's in motion
Every word feels like a shooting star
Watching the shadows burning in the dark
And I'm in love
And I'm terrified
For the first time
In the last time
In my only life
Life
Life
In my only life
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I absolutely love this song, both the Jason Reeves and Zachary Levi versions are great :)