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,
Life, life is unbelievable
Life, life
[Chorus]
Life is good, life is great
Life is unbelievable
Life is hard, life is cruel
Life is so beautiful
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Life, life is unbelievable
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Life, life is unbelievable
[LFO]
Somewhere in life and yet, on my way to anywhere
A woman named Beatrice serves me coffee
And she smiles as if she cares
It reminds me of this painting
That I think I've often seen
The kings behind the counter, serving coffee to James Dean
[Chorus]
[LFO]
On my way to Garden City, on my way to anywhere
A guy named Patrick gives me directions
And he smiles as if he
It reminds me of this movie
That I think I've often seen
Pretty much this situation, except I'd (?) the queen
[Hook]
So what would you do if you awaked tomorrow
There's no more sorrow, dreams came true
So knock on wood and cross your fingers
And count your blessings, it might be you
What would you do, if you awaked tomorrow
And all your gray skies have now turned blue
How many days do you think you're given
So get on livin', its up to you
[Chorus]
[LFO]
If your soul loves the sun, rock, rock on
Yo I'll be flippin', rippin' the party 'till the break of dawn
If you love rich nights, or you hate rich nights
Just take my advice, and live your life
Cause its yours
[M.O.P.]
Yo my mission is to save this world,
Cause its a never ending task
I don't know where to begin,
And I feel I'm near the end
I don't want to live life doin' petty nonsense
It's hard to sleep at night with a guilty conscience
You know what's really a mess, now I feel blessed
But twenty minutes from now, will it all turn to stress?
I'm twenty-seven years old and Brownsville raised
Upset with all the blood, the sweat, and the tears
[M.O.P.]
Baby its on, a mother shed tears, at the same time, a baby is born
On the other side of town, a life is lost
A young thug was knocked off, and the heat was tossed
Damn, life is real, and so tragic
But don't stop now, live your life, I know its hell for the rough,
But don't talk down on ya man, unless you helpiin' him out
ITS YOURS!
[Hook]
[Chorus]
[Repeat Hook]
Life, life
[Chorus]
Life is good, life is great
Life is unbelievable
Life is hard, life is cruel
Life is so beautiful
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Life, life is unbelievable
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Life, life is unbelievable
[LFO]
Somewhere in life and yet, on my way to anywhere
A woman named Beatrice serves me coffee
And she smiles as if she cares
It reminds me of this painting
That I think I've often seen
The kings behind the counter, serving coffee to James Dean
[Chorus]
[LFO]
On my way to Garden City, on my way to anywhere
A guy named Patrick gives me directions
And he smiles as if he
It reminds me of this movie
That I think I've often seen
Pretty much this situation, except I'd (?) the queen
[Hook]
So what would you do if you awaked tomorrow
There's no more sorrow, dreams came true
So knock on wood and cross your fingers
And count your blessings, it might be you
What would you do, if you awaked tomorrow
And all your gray skies have now turned blue
How many days do you think you're given
So get on livin', its up to you
[Chorus]
[LFO]
If your soul loves the sun, rock, rock on
Yo I'll be flippin', rippin' the party 'till the break of dawn
If you love rich nights, or you hate rich nights
Just take my advice, and live your life
Cause its yours
[M.O.P.]
Yo my mission is to save this world,
Cause its a never ending task
I don't know where to begin,
And I feel I'm near the end
I don't want to live life doin' petty nonsense
It's hard to sleep at night with a guilty conscience
You know what's really a mess, now I feel blessed
But twenty minutes from now, will it all turn to stress?
I'm twenty-seven years old and Brownsville raised
Upset with all the blood, the sweat, and the tears
[M.O.P.]
Baby its on, a mother shed tears, at the same time, a baby is born
On the other side of town, a life is lost
A young thug was knocked off, and the heat was tossed
Damn, life is real, and so tragic
But don't stop now, live your life, I know its hell for the rough,
But don't talk down on ya man, unless you helpiin' him out
ITS YOURS!
[Hook]
[Chorus]
[Repeat Hook]
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Yea, this song makes me smile! So fun!