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,
I've seen you watching
Her every time she crosses the floor
So won't you just go and talk to
The one you really adore
I'm getting pretty used to being
The one that you always ignore
When somebody wants you i've seen it before
You're every kind of collar
There ain't nothing that you won't claim
Your ambition and promise
And your addiction to fame
And everyone's got a dollar
Sign after their name
When somebody wants you
You treat 'em just the same
So go on and pick up
You don't care what poison you choose
And what person you lose
It should've been me, yeah shouldn't it be?
A crushing quiet
Blows in through your window
To someone who wants you
That you'll never know
But I'll pick up around you
And clear everything out
Leave you where I found you
I figured you out
Leave you where I found you
I figured you out
Her every time she crosses the floor
So won't you just go and talk to
The one you really adore
I'm getting pretty used to being
The one that you always ignore
When somebody wants you i've seen it before
You're every kind of collar
There ain't nothing that you won't claim
Your ambition and promise
And your addiction to fame
And everyone's got a dollar
Sign after their name
When somebody wants you
You treat 'em just the same
So go on and pick up
You don't care what poison you choose
And what person you lose
It should've been me, yeah shouldn't it be?
A crushing quiet
Blows in through your window
To someone who wants you
That you'll never know
But I'll pick up around you
And clear everything out
Leave you where I found you
I figured you out
Leave you where I found you
I figured you out
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
I Figured You Out Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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im confused... who wrote this song? is it a cover or did elliott write it? and why would he trash his own song, a song that he performed live? and what does rufus have to do with it?? just curious.