In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
You think you're really swinging
But you're off the beat
The moves your brains a thinking
Doesn't reach your feet
You got to get this complication out of your head
Or find another man instead
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
You listen very close to what the bad girls said
In all those crumby articles and in my bed
They say I'm just a stripper not afraid to strip
I got my brains rattlin' my hips
(Okay Marco let's hear what you can do!*)
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
You've got the kind of looks
That make a dead man stare
But when it comes to working honey
You ain't there
I try to tell you nicely but the screaming starts
You're playing ping pong with my heart
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
I've heard enough don't wanna hear no more
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
You think you're really swinging
But you're off the beat
The moves your brains a thinking
Doesn't reach your feet
You got to get this complication out of your head
Or find another man instead
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
You listen very close to what the bad girls said
In all those crumby articles and in my bed
They say I'm just a stripper not afraid to strip
I got my brains rattlin' my hips
(Okay Marco let's hear what you can do!*)
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
You've got the kind of looks
That make a dead man stare
But when it comes to working honey
You ain't there
I try to tell you nicely but the screaming starts
You're playing ping pong with my heart
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
Some I love but you I adore
All I thought I wanted was a front door
All I thought I wanted was a place in the country
Now I realise I wanted so much more
I've heard enough don't wanna hear no more
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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,
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It's a bit of an open ended letter to his girlfriend, that. It is amazing how very personal his songs turned out to be, in the end. I believe that is what makes them so worthy of listening to.