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,
Don't focus on the light from the moon
Hold a candle to the trash in my room
You wrote a note that I can't understand
See, my fingers weren't a part of my hand
And the veil loosely covering my face
It fell down to the ground, now you see everything
You don't want to see me when you're not feeling good
So I try to rearrange in the truth of your words
You wrote a note that I can't understand
See, my fingers weren't a part of my hand
And the veil loosely covering my face
It fell down to the ground, now you see everything
I can't remember if I'm right or I'm wrong
When I try to gauge the difference
"You've been gone for so long"
Speaking words I chose not to hear
See, my head wasn't attached to my ears
Picked up the veil from the grass
Held it close to my eyes
But I see nothing but black
Don't focus on the light from the moon
Hold a candle to the trash in my room
You wrote a note that I can't understand
See, my fingers weren't a part of my hand
And the veil loosely covering my face
It fell down to the ground, now you see everything
Hold a candle to the trash in my room
You wrote a note that I can't understand
See, my fingers weren't a part of my hand
And the veil loosely covering my face
It fell down to the ground, now you see everything
You don't want to see me when you're not feeling good
So I try to rearrange in the truth of your words
You wrote a note that I can't understand
See, my fingers weren't a part of my hand
And the veil loosely covering my face
It fell down to the ground, now you see everything
I can't remember if I'm right or I'm wrong
When I try to gauge the difference
"You've been gone for so long"
Speaking words I chose not to hear
See, my head wasn't attached to my ears
Picked up the veil from the grass
Held it close to my eyes
But I see nothing but black
Don't focus on the light from the moon
Hold a candle to the trash in my room
You wrote a note that I can't understand
See, my fingers weren't a part of my hand
And the veil loosely covering my face
It fell down to the ground, now you see everything
Lyrics submitted by twee!
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i just copy pasted. i'm a fraud