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,
You were at college painting by numbers
I was alone only thinking of you
Drive through the night spending twenty on coffee
Counting the ways I could keep us in bloom
But you give me that, give me that, give me that, give me that look
Even though everyone knows everything that you took
And you're drinking from the bottle
From that one night in Toronto
When you think that I'll let you off the hook
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
Sleeping in on a Sunday morning
Cryin' about how your friends are boring
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
Check all the boxes
That dress from the closet
The smiles, the perfume
That you used to use
Give it all up if you think they'll do better
At hiding the devil you keep in your room
But you give me that, give me that, give me that, give me that look
(I know you will, I know you will)
Even though everyone knows everything that you took
And you're drinking from the bottle
From that one night in Toronto
When you think that I'll let you off the hook
And I felt that
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
Sleeping in on a Sunday morning
Cryin' about how your friends are boring
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
I see right through you
I see right through you
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
Sleeping in on a Sunday morning
Cryin' about how your friends are boring
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
But you give me that, give me that, give me that, give me that look
Even though everyone knows everything that you took
On a Sunday morning
I was alone only thinking of you
Drive through the night spending twenty on coffee
Counting the ways I could keep us in bloom
But you give me that, give me that, give me that, give me that look
Even though everyone knows everything that you took
And you're drinking from the bottle
From that one night in Toronto
When you think that I'll let you off the hook
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
Sleeping in on a Sunday morning
Cryin' about how your friends are boring
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
Check all the boxes
That dress from the closet
The smiles, the perfume
That you used to use
Give it all up if you think they'll do better
At hiding the devil you keep in your room
But you give me that, give me that, give me that, give me that look
(I know you will, I know you will)
Even though everyone knows everything that you took
And you're drinking from the bottle
From that one night in Toronto
When you think that I'll let you off the hook
And I felt that
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
Sleeping in on a Sunday morning
Cryin' about how your friends are boring
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
I see right through you
I see right through you
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
Sleeping in on a Sunday morning
Cryin' about how your friends are boring
I see right through you
'Cause I can still remember
The way you look on a Sunday
On a Sunday, on a Sunday morning
But you give me that, give me that, give me that, give me that look
Even though everyone knows everything that you took
On a Sunday morning
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Obviously it's partly about abusing substance(s) to escape the mundane or just become somebody different for a day or so before being woken back to reality. I would love to know the references/meanings for the lyrics though.