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,
There's a human rights worker that chopped off her head
Embedded(?) reporter dismembered now and dead
Theres a dozen bloody corpses hanging off a bridge
Democracy and freedom rotting in a ditch
Theres a six year old boy (?) for a foot
Gotta ask my president ''that's how Al-Qaida look''
I'll give you my things, all of my belongings
You can have em all
Do with them as you see fit
As for me, my fuse is lit
So if you're getting fingered and you're getting fucked
You think you might consider blowing yourself up?
They occupy, kill most of your family
Could you look them in the eyes, shake their hands and praise democracy?
Did you think that your faith could save them from their own?
Do you believe your providence holds more weight than all their bones?
I'll give you all my things, all my belongings
You can have em all
Do with them as you see fit
As for me, my fuse is lit
So you better tax the churches let them pay up for this war
Draft every CEO's son, hang a reef on a mansion door
Then we'll separate churches from the state
Try to separate the loving from the hate
Don't want to be ashamed to be called an American
Refuse to be ashamed to be called an American
Embedded(?) reporter dismembered now and dead
Theres a dozen bloody corpses hanging off a bridge
Democracy and freedom rotting in a ditch
Theres a six year old boy (?) for a foot
Gotta ask my president ''that's how Al-Qaida look''
I'll give you my things, all of my belongings
You can have em all
Do with them as you see fit
As for me, my fuse is lit
So if you're getting fingered and you're getting fucked
You think you might consider blowing yourself up?
They occupy, kill most of your family
Could you look them in the eyes, shake their hands and praise democracy?
Did you think that your faith could save them from their own?
Do you believe your providence holds more weight than all their bones?
I'll give you all my things, all my belongings
You can have em all
Do with them as you see fit
As for me, my fuse is lit
So you better tax the churches let them pay up for this war
Draft every CEO's son, hang a reef on a mansion door
Then we'll separate churches from the state
Try to separate the loving from the hate
Don't want to be ashamed to be called an American
Refuse to be ashamed to be called an American
Lyrics submitted by sam9104
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Gentle Hour
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No Surprises
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