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,
The kid next door is defective, the trees are rotting and bending to the ground
Watch the un-tainted innocence, collapse into lewd misfortunes
And I swear, but the truth feels so empty
And I run, but there's darkness everywhere
Paralyzed you can't see
Paranoid you can't sleep
Through the lies that surround you
Paralyzed you can't breath
Paranoid you can't sleep
Through the lies that surround you
I'm at least half a mile away, but much further than I thought I would be
To finding my way out of this hole, but the darkness here is so soothing
And I swear but the truth gets me nowhere
And I run but there's darkness everywhere
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
Substance seals leaks in you, damaged ship so we sink right
Before my eyes but it's putting out the fire well
Carnage lights up the sky but it's just as well
No one's fine sinking into the darkness it's no surprise
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
What you can't see is your disease, is everything its everything and you
You can't taste this, cause you just waste it
Watch the un-tainted innocence, collapse into lewd misfortunes
And I swear, but the truth feels so empty
And I run, but there's darkness everywhere
Paralyzed you can't see
Paranoid you can't sleep
Through the lies that surround you
Paralyzed you can't breath
Paranoid you can't sleep
Through the lies that surround you
I'm at least half a mile away, but much further than I thought I would be
To finding my way out of this hole, but the darkness here is so soothing
And I swear but the truth gets me nowhere
And I run but there's darkness everywhere
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
Substance seals leaks in you, damaged ship so we sink right
Before my eyes but it's putting out the fire well
Carnage lights up the sky but it's just as well
No one's fine sinking into the darkness it's no surprise
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
Paranoid you can't sleep
Paralyzed you can't see
Through the lies that surround you
What you can't see is your disease, is everything its everything and you
You can't taste this, cause you just waste it
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Any ideas what this song is about? I truly is fantastic but I need a few more listens before I can work out then meaning! lol One of my favourite new bands along with 36 Crazyfists love them!