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,
There's hole in the wall where the plaster broke your fall
There's a stain on the door and a fresh one on the floor
There's a vase in the room filled with roses in full bloom
And a note signed in pen reading, "It won't happen again."
Cross my heart, hope to die
Cross my heart, hope to die
There's a frame in the hall where a picture fell from the wall
Of a boy you once knew who can smash your dreams in two
So you stare at his face, put the picture back in its place
And you say, "I'm to blame - I won't make you angry again"
Cross my heart, hope to die
Cross my heart, hope to die
Have you forgotten every word he said that wasn't true?
Every time in anger that he raised a hand to you?
Or do you sit alone at night and whisper through your cries
"Cross my heart, hope to die."
Cross my heart, hope to die
Cross my heart, hope to die
There's a stain on the door and a fresh one on the floor
There's a vase in the room filled with roses in full bloom
And a note signed in pen reading, "It won't happen again."
Cross my heart, hope to die
Cross my heart, hope to die
There's a frame in the hall where a picture fell from the wall
Of a boy you once knew who can smash your dreams in two
So you stare at his face, put the picture back in its place
And you say, "I'm to blame - I won't make you angry again"
Cross my heart, hope to die
Cross my heart, hope to die
Have you forgotten every word he said that wasn't true?
Every time in anger that he raised a hand to you?
Or do you sit alone at night and whisper through your cries
"Cross my heart, hope to die."
Cross my heart, hope to die
Cross my heart, hope to die
Lyrics submitted by bananahero
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