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,
Daddy won a radio, he tuned it to a country show
I was rockin' in the cradle to the cryin' of a steel guitar
Mama used to sing to me, she taught me that sweet harmony
Now she worries 'cause she never thought I'd ever really take it this far
Singin' in the bars and
Chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
An atlas and a coffee cup, five pickers in an old Dodge truck
Headin' down to Houston for a show on Saturday night
Well, this overhead is killin' me, half the time I sing for free
But when the crowd's into it Lord, it makes this thing I'm doing seem right
Standin' in the spotlight
Chasin' that neon rainbow, I'm livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
Daddy's got a radio, he won it thirty years ago
He said "Son, I just know we're gonna hear you singin' on it someday"
Well, I made it up to Music Row, and Lordy, don't the wheels turn slow
Still I wouldn't trade a minute and I wouldn't have it any other way
Just show me to the stage
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, I'm livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
Oh, I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
I was rockin' in the cradle to the cryin' of a steel guitar
Mama used to sing to me, she taught me that sweet harmony
Now she worries 'cause she never thought I'd ever really take it this far
Singin' in the bars and
Chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
An atlas and a coffee cup, five pickers in an old Dodge truck
Headin' down to Houston for a show on Saturday night
Well, this overhead is killin' me, half the time I sing for free
But when the crowd's into it Lord, it makes this thing I'm doing seem right
Standin' in the spotlight
Chasin' that neon rainbow, I'm livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
Daddy's got a radio, he won it thirty years ago
He said "Son, I just know we're gonna hear you singin' on it someday"
Well, I made it up to Music Row, and Lordy, don't the wheels turn slow
Still I wouldn't trade a minute and I wouldn't have it any other way
Just show me to the stage
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, I'm livin' that honky tonk dream
'Cause all I've ever wanted is to pick this guitar and sing
Just tryin' to be somebody, just wanna be heard and seen
I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
Oh, I'm chasin' that neon rainbow, livin' that honky tonk dream
Lyrics submitted by Manderzterz
Chasin' That Neon Rainbow Lyrics as written by Jim Mcbride Alan Jackson
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's about him wanting to be a singer.
:)