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,
Just swing across the southern sky
And lift a match to my morning eye
Well we'll all die young if we're lucky babe
You'd hate the dark to prove the dawn
Need me no more and I'll be gone
I'm dieing to love somebody like you love him
And you look just like my darling Tennessee
Do you think she'll know me
Or see me now like the broken man I am
Doing a little bit more than the best I can
Still she's gonna need a little more
So cast your light into my room
Kiss me deep or I'm leaving soon
Well we're far too young to be dieing now
Just draw me down with every word
Til we find out what we deserve
I know I can not pay my debters fee
But you look just like my darling Tennessee
Do you think she'll know me
Or see me now like the broken man I am
Doing a little bit more than the best I can
Still she's gonna need a little more
I would stand in disgrace
I would spit in my saviors face
My coat tattered and torn
Just to know that our love will be reborn
And our days pass like autumn wind
And the world spins around me again
And you look just like my darling Tennessee
Well we'll all die young if we're lucky babe
And lift a match to my morning eye
Well we'll all die young if we're lucky babe
You'd hate the dark to prove the dawn
Need me no more and I'll be gone
I'm dieing to love somebody like you love him
And you look just like my darling Tennessee
Do you think she'll know me
Or see me now like the broken man I am
Doing a little bit more than the best I can
Still she's gonna need a little more
So cast your light into my room
Kiss me deep or I'm leaving soon
Well we're far too young to be dieing now
Just draw me down with every word
Til we find out what we deserve
I know I can not pay my debters fee
But you look just like my darling Tennessee
Do you think she'll know me
Or see me now like the broken man I am
Doing a little bit more than the best I can
Still she's gonna need a little more
I would stand in disgrace
I would spit in my saviors face
My coat tattered and torn
Just to know that our love will be reborn
And our days pass like autumn wind
And the world spins around me again
And you look just like my darling Tennessee
Well we'll all die young if we're lucky babe
Lyrics submitted by Nice_Heartx
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