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're a livin' walkin' dream
You're the best I've ever seen,
Oh God I wanted you.
I've often dreamed what I would do,
If I could give myself to you,
Oh God I wanted to.
But up 'til now you've not been free to be
Foolin' around with the likes of me.
But it's changed now, though it's strange how,
He's the one that arranged it now.
But he's a poor damned fool
'Cause he went and let you go now.
Just a poor damned fool.
He never will know now.
Maybe someday he'll be sad.
I say that that's too bad,
He never knew how much he had.
I'm glad I got you now.
Yes I've had my ups and downs
As I've been ramblin' around
And I'll be candid.
I could not believe my eyes
When I finally realized
Just what that man did.
Yes I've heard 'bout finders keepers
And how losers are the weepers, it's OK,
I know it's my lucky day
Still I just got to say...
That he's a poor damned fool
'Cause he went and let you go now.
Just a poor damned fool.
He never will know now.
Maybe someday he'll be sad.
I say that that's too bad,
He never knew how much he had.
I'm glad I got you now.
Oh how I'd love to hear you say
You're glad that it worked out this way
And you'll forget about yesterday
'Cause you feel so good.
It's worked out real good.
You make me feel so good.
I've been tryin' to find a way to cope
With grasping straws And fallen hopes.
But he's made a way
And now his misfortune is my gain.
Though for now it gives you pain
It'll fade away
And you'll find that as the years roll by
The memories of the time you cried
Will be laid away
Yes, they'll fade away
And you'll forget that poor damned fool
'Cause he went and let you go now.
Just a poor damned fool.
He never will know now.
Maybe someday he'll be sad.
I say that that's too bad
He never knew how much he had.
I'm glad I got you now.
He was a poor damn fool.
You're the best I've ever seen,
Oh God I wanted you.
I've often dreamed what I would do,
If I could give myself to you,
Oh God I wanted to.
But up 'til now you've not been free to be
Foolin' around with the likes of me.
But it's changed now, though it's strange how,
He's the one that arranged it now.
But he's a poor damned fool
'Cause he went and let you go now.
Just a poor damned fool.
He never will know now.
Maybe someday he'll be sad.
I say that that's too bad,
He never knew how much he had.
I'm glad I got you now.
Yes I've had my ups and downs
As I've been ramblin' around
And I'll be candid.
I could not believe my eyes
When I finally realized
Just what that man did.
Yes I've heard 'bout finders keepers
And how losers are the weepers, it's OK,
I know it's my lucky day
Still I just got to say...
That he's a poor damned fool
'Cause he went and let you go now.
Just a poor damned fool.
He never will know now.
Maybe someday he'll be sad.
I say that that's too bad,
He never knew how much he had.
I'm glad I got you now.
Oh how I'd love to hear you say
You're glad that it worked out this way
And you'll forget about yesterday
'Cause you feel so good.
It's worked out real good.
You make me feel so good.
I've been tryin' to find a way to cope
With grasping straws And fallen hopes.
But he's made a way
And now his misfortune is my gain.
Though for now it gives you pain
It'll fade away
And you'll find that as the years roll by
The memories of the time you cried
Will be laid away
Yes, they'll fade away
And you'll forget that poor damned fool
'Cause he went and let you go now.
Just a poor damned fool.
He never will know now.
Maybe someday he'll be sad.
I say that that's too bad
He never knew how much he had.
I'm glad I got you now.
He was a poor damn fool.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Poor Damned Fool Lyrics as written by Harry F. Chapin
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Chapin would state in his concerts, as well as some of his TV appearances such as "The Tonight Show" that this song is about his relationship with his wife, specifically her ex husband letting her go and the two of them getting together (thus her ex is the "Poor, Damn Fool").
Chapin would joke that songs about your "old lady's ex old man" were surprisingly absent from the singer-songwriter movement of the time, which he was correcting with this song.