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,
The way that I feel, and what's supposed to be real strongly disagree
There is one thing I keep in front of me
'Cause cash won't save, cars won't transcend the grave
I call everyone I know the only things of value I could ever own
It worries my mind knowing days of my life slowly disappear
Is there something that I should be doing here with my time?
Should I fall in line? I can't chase the American Dream
Trading life for money never made much sense to me
And some may say that I'm already gone but I say
"Hey, if I'm wrong at all for living this way? I'm alright being wrong"
And I say, "Hey, as I slowly let possession slip away I feel I belong
I'm alright being wrong"
I try and I try to find appeal in 9 to 5, but I never win
Stuck in days that don't seem to begin
The answer I find to the question in mind
King of diamonds, king of hearts?
One dies loved, and one is dead from the very start
Things like this aren't hard to resist
As my mind persists allowing absolutely no interest
In things that fade as fast as they accumulate
I refuse to bury myself that way
There is one thing I keep in front of me
'Cause cash won't save, cars won't transcend the grave
I call everyone I know the only things of value I could ever own
It worries my mind knowing days of my life slowly disappear
Is there something that I should be doing here with my time?
Should I fall in line? I can't chase the American Dream
Trading life for money never made much sense to me
And some may say that I'm already gone but I say
"Hey, if I'm wrong at all for living this way? I'm alright being wrong"
And I say, "Hey, as I slowly let possession slip away I feel I belong
I'm alright being wrong"
I try and I try to find appeal in 9 to 5, but I never win
Stuck in days that don't seem to begin
The answer I find to the question in mind
King of diamonds, king of hearts?
One dies loved, and one is dead from the very start
Things like this aren't hard to resist
As my mind persists allowing absolutely no interest
In things that fade as fast as they accumulate
I refuse to bury myself that way
Lyrics submitted by betterlife
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I dont think this song as anything to do with religon. I think what there trying to say is that the everyday life of the normal american citizen isnt really living at all. somebody probably told them that the life of a rockstar is very unstable and that they could become unpopular at any second, that a 9 to 5 job is a better chioce. so they say "Hey, if I'm wrong at all for living this way? I'm alright being wrong" and I say, "Hey, as I slowly let possession slip away I feel I belong I'm alright being wrong."
I think you hit the nail on the head, <br /> <br /> Also an interesting line to consider is this:<br /> <br /> "King of diamonds, king of hearts?<br /> One dies loved, and one is dead from the very start"<br /> <br /> My first listen I thought he was simply stating that he'd rather be the king of hearts than of diamonds. But the line doubles in meaning when you take into consideration that the "Suicide King" (The only of the four kings of a card deck to be depicted with a knife in his neck) is the king of hearts. <br /> <br /> If this is the author's intent, then we can assume that it is actually the king of hearts that is dead from the very start, and the king of diamonds who dies loved. Maybe his intention with this particular line isn't to say which of these he would chose to be, but to point out that society adores the affluent.
Naw naw naw.....i disagree, the lyric "cause cash wont save, cars wont trenscend the grave?" There is only one thing that has EVER trancended the grave and that is a man called Jesus. People are ridiculed for living for Jesus and say they are living wrong (Matthew 10:22) So hes letting them know "if im wrong for living this way, im alright being wrong." and then you guys missed the last stanza! "Things like this aren't hard to resist As my mind persists allowing absolutely no interest In things that fade as fast as they accumulate I refuse to bury myself that way." He's not leetting the possesions of this world grasp his interest, because they cant satisfy him the way God can.<br /> <br /> Its definitely a song about living the Christian life. <br /> <br />
your way wrong spencer. brandon the singer has never been a fan of religion. in fact hes an atheist. he talks about his disgust with the church in the song born again question. and the line you talk about is saying that when you die you dont take posessions wirh you cars wont transcend the grave to put it simpy your way off haha.its not that complicated. hes alright living the life he lives, he doesnt need material stuff more than friends and family. hes even explained it before on his tumblr.
To put it simply, the song seems to be about his belief in god and how he doesn't care if he is right or wrong by believing.
His belief brings him happiness, and that is what matters the most to him. Slipping away from material possessions: "King of diamonds, king of hearts? One dies loved, and one is dead from the very start." (One covets possessions, the other covets love) He is saying it is better to have love in your life and die wrong, than collect meaningless possessions and die lonely.
Another great line, "There is one thing I keep in front of me. 'Cause cash won't save, cars won't transcend the grave"
He puts god before everything in life, because material possessions won't get him anywhere when he dies.
Great band, song, and message.