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,
I am a critic, of my own critical need to define myself
With wine, and words, and lovers, and friends who don't understand
So there, I just said it
You know that admitting the problem is the first step towards repair
"We all recover," say the friends turned to wine-drunk lovers
Smile, tell me I'm alright with a goodbye
You are so misleading
A kiss or a gun fight, high-noon or midnight
Darling, I don't want to know
If I'm just a short sight on a cold night
The canals are freezing
So tell me alright with a goodbye
Am I a villain, cast among heroes
With all of their underwhelming, overbearing struggles
To become what they'll never be?
Friends to the wicked
Caution is calling, but nobody's home, the lights are off, the party's over
Now you're stuck plucking three leaf clovers
Smile, tell me I'm alright with a goodbye
You are so misleading
A kiss or a gun fight, high-noon or midnight
Darling, I don't want to know
If I'm just a short sight on a cold night
The canals are freezing
So tell me alright with a goodbye
You've got the high ground, and I'm on my best defense
But I dare you to come down
I'll give you an eye for an eye, if it makes things easy
Smile, tell me I'm alright with a goodbye
You are so misleading
A kiss or a gun fight, high-noon or midnight
Darling, I don't want to know
If I'm just a short sight on a cold night
The canals are freezing
So tell me alright with a goodbye
Smile, tell me alright with a goodbye
With wine, and words, and lovers, and friends who don't understand
So there, I just said it
You know that admitting the problem is the first step towards repair
"We all recover," say the friends turned to wine-drunk lovers
Smile, tell me I'm alright with a goodbye
You are so misleading
A kiss or a gun fight, high-noon or midnight
Darling, I don't want to know
If I'm just a short sight on a cold night
The canals are freezing
So tell me alright with a goodbye
Am I a villain, cast among heroes
With all of their underwhelming, overbearing struggles
To become what they'll never be?
Friends to the wicked
Caution is calling, but nobody's home, the lights are off, the party's over
Now you're stuck plucking three leaf clovers
Smile, tell me I'm alright with a goodbye
You are so misleading
A kiss or a gun fight, high-noon or midnight
Darling, I don't want to know
If I'm just a short sight on a cold night
The canals are freezing
So tell me alright with a goodbye
You've got the high ground, and I'm on my best defense
But I dare you to come down
I'll give you an eye for an eye, if it makes things easy
Smile, tell me I'm alright with a goodbye
You are so misleading
A kiss or a gun fight, high-noon or midnight
Darling, I don't want to know
If I'm just a short sight on a cold night
The canals are freezing
So tell me alright with a goodbye
Smile, tell me alright with a goodbye
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
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It's clearly about Jalex. K bye
This is the most perfect explanation in the history of explanations .-.