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,
Tonight was just great,
She taught us the sign for peace.
Now She's made us some popcorn,
We've turned out the lights and we're watching movies
I don't understand and she tries to explain
How a spaceship is riding through somebody's brain
And their blood and guts and oh
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair
And she's tall as my dad
And she tie-died my shirt,
And pierced her own ear
And it's peace, man, cool, yeah, the babysitter's here
Her boyfriend is Tom but we call him the king of romance
He wears an American flag on the butt of his ripped up pants
And will they get married with kids of their own?
He says "Not if she's going to college we won't,"
And he kisses her, oh
Someday I'll have a boyfriend just like that
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair and she's tall as my dad
And she got mad at dinner when Tom drank a beer
But peace man, cool, hey, the babysitter's here
And we all went to see her go dance at the high school
We made her a big
And she told us that she'd be the unicorn wearing the pink leotard
And there she was leaping up just like she said,
With a sparking horn coming out of her head
And she's oh...oh oh uh oh
I can't wait to give her card, I can't wait to give her the card
She's the best one
OK, so, the play was called the unicorn,
And she was the unicorn,
That means the star...was my babysitter!
But it's Saturday night,
I can't sleep, and we're watching the news
She says, "Do me a favor,
Don't go with a boy who would make you choose,"
And I don't understand, and she tries to explain
And all that mascara runs down in her pain
Cause she's leaving me, oh no
You're the best one that we've ever had
You sit on your,
And you're tall as my dad
And I'll make you a picture for college next year
So hush now, peace, man, the babysitter's here.
The best babysitter's here.
We will see the spinache.
Just sometimes, though, not all the time.
She taught us the sign for peace.
Now She's made us some popcorn,
We've turned out the lights and we're watching movies
I don't understand and she tries to explain
How a spaceship is riding through somebody's brain
And their blood and guts and oh
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair
And she's tall as my dad
And she tie-died my shirt,
And pierced her own ear
And it's peace, man, cool, yeah, the babysitter's here
Her boyfriend is Tom but we call him the king of romance
He wears an American flag on the butt of his ripped up pants
And will they get married with kids of their own?
He says "Not if she's going to college we won't,"
And he kisses her, oh
Someday I'll have a boyfriend just like that
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair and she's tall as my dad
And she got mad at dinner when Tom drank a beer
But peace man, cool, hey, the babysitter's here
And we all went to see her go dance at the high school
We made her a big
And she told us that she'd be the unicorn wearing the pink leotard
And there she was leaping up just like she said,
With a sparking horn coming out of her head
And she's oh...oh oh uh oh
I can't wait to give her card, I can't wait to give her the card
She's the best one
OK, so, the play was called the unicorn,
And she was the unicorn,
That means the star...was my babysitter!
But it's Saturday night,
I can't sleep, and we're watching the news
She says, "Do me a favor,
Don't go with a boy who would make you choose,"
And I don't understand, and she tries to explain
And all that mascara runs down in her pain
Cause she's leaving me, oh no
You're the best one that we've ever had
You sit on your,
And you're tall as my dad
And I'll make you a picture for college next year
So hush now, peace, man, the babysitter's here.
The best babysitter's here.
We will see the spinache.
Just sometimes, though, not all the time.
Lyrics submitted by aur0ra, edited by dartisha, Crochetchef
The Babysitter's Here Lyrics as written by Dar Williams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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My favorite line, and I think one of Dar's best, She says do me a favor don't go with a guy who would make you choose and I don't understand and she tries to explain And all that mascara runs down in her pain
So perfectly captures the struggle so many people face in making decisions. You feel the tug toward the known, but want to explore and expand your horizons. I feel like 30 years ago, many people didn't see a point in a woman going to college if she was to end up a housewife anyway.