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,
Better know your hanky code,
Before you go and shoot your load.
Excuse me, whats that hanging out of your pocket?
Do you actually know what that means?
Boy, can you tell me that you don't really know,
I've seen it all too many times.
You can't tell me that you've never heard,
'Cause it's been all over the line.
Are you a left?
Or are you right?
Or are you switching,
Just for tonight,
I don't even know all the codes,
But baby you better find out before you go.
And if you wear it, you too,
There gonna come to you.
To the left, or to the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
On the left, or on the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
What you got in your pocket tell me,
Do you know what that means?
What you got in your pocket baby,
Is it yellow, blue or green?
If your wearing gold lame
You better work out all day.
If your wearing black on the right,
Then you know your gonna hurt tonight.
Red to the wrist, pink give it a twist,
Grey your gonna be tied up you can't resist,
But if you're wearing blue,
What shade is it baby,
You better know what to do.
To the left, or to the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
On the left, or on the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Could be red, or could be white,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight,
Cut loose, or skin tight,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Orange on the right means not tonight,
But oh oh on the left then anything goes,
Uncut brown lace, light blue use your face,
Olive tone, you love a man in uniform.
On the left, or on the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Could be red, or could be white,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Cut loose, or skin tight,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Fly the flag, and you'll invite,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
What you got in your pocket baby,
What you got in your pocket baby.
Better know your hanky code.
Before you go and shoot your load.
Excuse me, whats that hanging out of your pocket?
Do you actually know what that means?
Boy, can you tell me that you don't really know,
I've seen it all too many times.
You can't tell me that you've never heard,
'Cause it's been all over the line.
Are you a left?
Or are you right?
Or are you switching,
Just for tonight,
I don't even know all the codes,
But baby you better find out before you go.
And if you wear it, you too,
There gonna come to you.
To the left, or to the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
On the left, or on the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
What you got in your pocket tell me,
Do you know what that means?
What you got in your pocket baby,
Is it yellow, blue or green?
If your wearing gold lame
You better work out all day.
If your wearing black on the right,
Then you know your gonna hurt tonight.
Red to the wrist, pink give it a twist,
Grey your gonna be tied up you can't resist,
But if you're wearing blue,
What shade is it baby,
You better know what to do.
To the left, or to the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
On the left, or on the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Could be red, or could be white,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight,
Cut loose, or skin tight,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Orange on the right means not tonight,
But oh oh on the left then anything goes,
Uncut brown lace, light blue use your face,
Olive tone, you love a man in uniform.
On the left, or on the right,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Could be red, or could be white,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Cut loose, or skin tight,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
Fly the flag, and you'll invite,
Don't you know you better know your hanky code tonight.
What you got in your pocket baby,
What you got in your pocket baby.
Better know your hanky code.
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