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,
Must have been late after noon
I could tell by how far the child's shadow stretched out
And he walked with a purpose in his sneakers down the street
He had many questions like children often do
He said, "Tell me all your thoughts on God
And tell me, am I very far?"
Must have been late after noon
On our way, the sun broke free of the clouds
We count only blue cars skip the cracks in the street
And ask many questions like children often do
We said, "Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'd really like to meet her.
And ask her why we're who we are."
Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'm on my way to see her
So tell me, am I very far
Am I very far now
It's getting cold, picked up the pace
How our shoes make hard noises in this place
Our clothes are stained, we pass many cross eyed people
And ask many questions like children often do
We said, Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'd really like to meet her
And ask her why we're who we are
Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'm on my way to see her
So tell me am I very far
Am I very far now?
Tell me all your thoughts on God
Tell me all your thoughts on God
I could tell by how far the child's shadow stretched out
And he walked with a purpose in his sneakers down the street
He had many questions like children often do
He said, "Tell me all your thoughts on God
And tell me, am I very far?"
Must have been late after noon
On our way, the sun broke free of the clouds
We count only blue cars skip the cracks in the street
And ask many questions like children often do
We said, "Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'd really like to meet her.
And ask her why we're who we are."
Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'm on my way to see her
So tell me, am I very far
Am I very far now
It's getting cold, picked up the pace
How our shoes make hard noises in this place
Our clothes are stained, we pass many cross eyed people
And ask many questions like children often do
We said, Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'd really like to meet her
And ask her why we're who we are
Tell me all your thoughts on God
'Cause I'm on my way to see her
So tell me am I very far
Am I very far now?
Tell me all your thoughts on God
Tell me all your thoughts on God
Lyrics submitted by sadlilemogirl, edited by davidst, terriebari
Counting Blue Cars Lyrics as written by George Edward Iii Pendergast George Pendergast Iii
Lyrics © BIGGER THAN PEANUT BUTTER MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Abkco Music Inc.
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I think that this is a song about someone dying. The child's shadow isn't anyone in the song, probably something he remembers. I think someone was shot, the whole walking with purpose thing drives that away for me. Then the chorus is tied into the end of each verse, when someone's dying they question faith and ask questions. In this case I think they are accepting death, or in shock because they were shot. Asking if they're very far now, and saying that they're on their way to see her, shows they feel like they are dying. I think the blue cars are police cars. The person dying says he's getting cold, so they move faster through the hospital, where they're shoes make loud noises, probably because they're moving very fast, and the linoleum floors. They have blood stained clothes, and the other patients and staff look at them like 'what the fuck' or you could say looked at them cross-eyed.
@tolaekoms I think you're pretty close... the way I interpreted the story (or at least what formed in my head) was of a child (or children) who became victims of violence and was thus asking God for why "we are who we are" as his/her spirit continue to linger and walk the street while counting all the 'blue police cars' lined up as they wait for God to receive them in heaven... thus, the reference to the "it's getting cold" our "clothes are stained" and "i'm on my way to meet Her" and as they pass the many people (bystanders I'm guessing) who are also asking God about the senseless violence and why it happened... just my two cents!