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,
Smash glass against the wall
Curse the music on the radio that the neighbours play.
Door slams, she turns her head
Watches through the window as he pulls away
Funny how your racing brain drives you so mad
When all the while you feel so numb
Too old to be clean far too young to be broken
Like an army we come
Cut back, left behind
I watched you self-destructing oh so many times
Shot down, once again
Sitting in a chair crying what am I going to do with my life?
Just learn to hide the way that you really feel
Never let them know that you're scared
But understand that you're not the special only one
Watch us now, watch us real close
Chorus:
How we all dance with this fire 'cause it's all that we know
And as the spotlight turns toward us, we all try our best to show
We are lost we are freaks, we are crippled, we are weak
We are the heirs, we are the true heirs, to all the world
Let's go build a fire down on the empty beach when the waves are crashing high
White heat purify, as the sparks fly up into the great black sky
Sacrifice these crutches to the crackling flames
Stand as silhouettes against the dawn
It's far too late to try to sleep now, seems I'm never tired any more
Chorus:
I want to dance with this fire 'cause it's all that I know . . .
We are lost we are freaks . . .
And we try our best to show . . .
I am lost... I'm a freak ha ha.
Curse the music on the radio that the neighbours play.
Door slams, she turns her head
Watches through the window as he pulls away
Funny how your racing brain drives you so mad
When all the while you feel so numb
Too old to be clean far too young to be broken
Like an army we come
Cut back, left behind
I watched you self-destructing oh so many times
Shot down, once again
Sitting in a chair crying what am I going to do with my life?
Just learn to hide the way that you really feel
Never let them know that you're scared
But understand that you're not the special only one
Watch us now, watch us real close
Chorus:
How we all dance with this fire 'cause it's all that we know
And as the spotlight turns toward us, we all try our best to show
We are lost we are freaks, we are crippled, we are weak
We are the heirs, we are the true heirs, to all the world
Let's go build a fire down on the empty beach when the waves are crashing high
White heat purify, as the sparks fly up into the great black sky
Sacrifice these crutches to the crackling flames
Stand as silhouettes against the dawn
It's far too late to try to sleep now, seems I'm never tired any more
Chorus:
I want to dance with this fire 'cause it's all that I know . . .
We are lost we are freaks . . .
And we try our best to show . . .
I am lost... I'm a freak ha ha.
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
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Basically we are all just people. If one thinks that their life is difficult theyr'e right. So is everyone else's. It'sw a complex song that touches on a lot of important stuff that most people just never grasp.
We might look or feel different then the "normal average" but we still have strength and that cannot be taken away. If you watch us real close you'll see differences in EVERYBODY. Meaning that we are all freaks in the end. These differences make us human after all, don't they ?
To me, this song contrasts those who can’t see beyond their lives and problems, with those who just throw it all away to the flames, and choose to live their own lives in their own way. I have both sat in that chair, and sacrificed the crutches, taken a chance. I have to say, this song, as with so many NMA songs, has given me the strength I needed over the years.