The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
A gust of northern air
just blew down from where
the land meets the sky and the sun shares
evenings with the moon
Wrapped in a blanket,
black gloves and a cardigan
I'll cut my way through this winter wind
and meet at the corner store
Come down, we'll sing
of darker things in love
Come down, right now, woah
Come down, we'll sing
and waste the night away
Come down, come down
You've got the upper hand on this
but we've got the northern sun, darling
Let's just drown out the complications or reservations
We'll play away from
You've got the upper hand on this one
but we've got, we've got, we've got the northern sun
A candle glows through a single-pane window
casting light down and a shadow falls on our evening alone
Romance with an inanimate object may seem absurd at first glance
but we're warm from within
Come down, we'll sing
of darker things in love
Come down, right now, woah
Come down, we'll sing
and waste the night away
Come down, come down
You've got the upper hand on this
but we've got the northern sun, darling
Let's just drown out the complications or reservations
We'll play away from
You've got the upper hand on this one
but we've got, we've got, we've got the northern sun
just blew down from where
the land meets the sky and the sun shares
evenings with the moon
Wrapped in a blanket,
black gloves and a cardigan
I'll cut my way through this winter wind
and meet at the corner store
Come down, we'll sing
of darker things in love
Come down, right now, woah
Come down, we'll sing
and waste the night away
Come down, come down
You've got the upper hand on this
but we've got the northern sun, darling
Let's just drown out the complications or reservations
We'll play away from
You've got the upper hand on this one
but we've got, we've got, we've got the northern sun
A candle glows through a single-pane window
casting light down and a shadow falls on our evening alone
Romance with an inanimate object may seem absurd at first glance
but we're warm from within
Come down, we'll sing
of darker things in love
Come down, right now, woah
Come down, we'll sing
and waste the night away
Come down, come down
You've got the upper hand on this
but we've got the northern sun, darling
Let's just drown out the complications or reservations
We'll play away from
You've got the upper hand on this one
but we've got, we've got, we've got the northern sun
Lyrics submitted by rocknrollgirl47
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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,
This one makes me think about places really up north that are cold and in different times of the year there will be extended daylight or night.
Other than that it just seems like he's trying to convince a lover to have an affair with him by saying she has the upper hand (possibly, that she doesn't also have a partner so she won't get caught).
The "romance with an inanimate object" line is weird. I think maybe he means phone sex? Either way, it seems like they live pretty far apart from one another.