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,
We're lowering the standard in a process selective.
The formulas to thin.
But it takes more than one person.
So everyone jump on.
I'll miss you when you're just like them.
I remember back then thinking:
Easy comes but doesn't stay, what comes easy never stays.
But the politics need means.
And Business never leaves.
You better sing now while you can.
Imitate and water down.
Until we crash I'll write it out:
Selection breathes on its own.
Make them open the request line and let selection kill the old.
Turn off your radio.
The formulas to thin.
But it takes more than one person.
So everyone jump on.
I'll miss you when you're just like them.
I remember back then thinking:
Easy comes but doesn't stay, what comes easy never stays.
But the politics need means.
And Business never leaves.
You better sing now while you can.
Imitate and water down.
Until we crash I'll write it out:
Selection breathes on its own.
Make them open the request line and let selection kill the old.
Turn off your radio.
Lyrics submitted by cprompt
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Oh, I know JEW is on MTV...I'm just saying that they haven't really sold out until it starts getting to their heads, ya know? When it starts to be ALL about the money and the MTV apperances and they forget about the fans, the people who put them in that position, it's nothing to be proud of. I also cringe when I see little 12 year old girls yelling "Jim is so hot" on TRL or the local pop DJ raves about the new JEW song, but it's something we, as true fans, need to deal with. It will soon all pass and JEW will be ours again. Just hang in there.