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,
Oh my sweet Sister Dew what have I done?
All my life I've only loved the one.
I was taught to be tolerant and plain
I was taught a million things I can't explain.
It must have been the hatred in her eyes
It must have been the power to her lies
Sister tell me there's a place where I can hide
Oh my sweet this is how it did unfold
no my body never felt so calm and cold.
All around us there were people in the park.
No my senses never felt so clear and stark.
And I swear that she saw it in my way
and I'm sure that she heard it in my voice
Sister tell me please I didn't have a choice.
I enjoyed to see her being idle
she never had no worries, nothing vital
from the day I met her to the final, afternoon.
There was something there I can't describe it
we were kicking ass we didn't fight it.
She never once suspected, that she had it, coming soon.
Oh my sweet Sister Dew what have I done?
all my life I've only loved the one.
I was raised with compassion and they said
I was loved for the loving that I spread
Now the only thing remaining is this chill.
and the only emptiness I need to fill
is understanding what it is that made me KILL.
Haaahaaah-haaahaaah-haaahaaah-haaahaaah
Please forgive me if I keep on smiling
but every sad story has a funny side in
from that moment on I felt like crying, every day.
All around us there were people screaming
For half a second I thought I was dreaming
my baby looked at me her eyes were beaming,
I walked away.
Oh my sweet Sister Dew what have I done?
All my life I've never loved no one.
So it dawned on me this should be the place
now the only thing I crave is an embrace.
So let your tender wisdom be mine
and let me come to you like a child
I'd like to stick around here for a while
All my life I've only loved the one.
I was taught to be tolerant and plain
I was taught a million things I can't explain.
It must have been the hatred in her eyes
It must have been the power to her lies
Sister tell me there's a place where I can hide
Oh my sweet this is how it did unfold
no my body never felt so calm and cold.
All around us there were people in the park.
No my senses never felt so clear and stark.
And I swear that she saw it in my way
and I'm sure that she heard it in my voice
Sister tell me please I didn't have a choice.
I enjoyed to see her being idle
she never had no worries, nothing vital
from the day I met her to the final, afternoon.
There was something there I can't describe it
we were kicking ass we didn't fight it.
She never once suspected, that she had it, coming soon.
Oh my sweet Sister Dew what have I done?
all my life I've only loved the one.
I was raised with compassion and they said
I was loved for the loving that I spread
Now the only thing remaining is this chill.
and the only emptiness I need to fill
is understanding what it is that made me KILL.
Haaahaaah-haaahaaah-haaahaaah-haaahaaah
Please forgive me if I keep on smiling
but every sad story has a funny side in
from that moment on I felt like crying, every day.
All around us there were people screaming
For half a second I thought I was dreaming
my baby looked at me her eyes were beaming,
I walked away.
Oh my sweet Sister Dew what have I done?
All my life I've never loved no one.
So it dawned on me this should be the place
now the only thing I crave is an embrace.
So let your tender wisdom be mine
and let me come to you like a child
I'd like to stick around here for a while
Lyrics submitted by Don Jerone
Sister Dew Lyrics as written by Danny Mommens Craig Ward
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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great song. but to me it sounds like he killed the woman he loved..am i wrong?