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,
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that
dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God
of his salvation, yah. Yeah!
This is the generation of them that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, ye gates; and let the King of glory come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD mighty, mighty in battle, yah.
Lift up thy gates; and let the King of glory come in. Yeah!
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that
dwell therein, yah. Yeah!
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from his Lord, and righteousness from the God
of his salvation. Yeah!
Who have eyes to see, let them see!
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the
workers of iniquity.
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof, yeah!
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; lift up thy everlasting doors; and let the
King of glory come in. Yeah!
Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon,
A black, black stone was rolling inna Babylon,
Daniel saw the stone, yah. Yeah!
Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon,
Daniel saw the stone,
Black, black stone, yah.
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God
of his salvation, yah. Yeah!
This is the generation of them that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, ye gates; and let the King of glory come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD mighty, mighty in battle, yah.
Lift up thy gates; and let the King of glory come in. Yeah!
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that
dwell therein, yah. Yeah!
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from his Lord, and righteousness from the God
of his salvation. Yeah!
Who have eyes to see, let them see!
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the
workers of iniquity.
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof, yeah!
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; lift up thy everlasting doors; and let the
King of glory come in. Yeah!
Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon,
A black, black stone was rolling inna Babylon,
Daniel saw the stone, yah. Yeah!
Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon,
Daniel saw the stone,
Black, black stone, yah.
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Lyrics submitted by aebassist
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Just listening for the 784,654th time....and it's just perfect in every way. Just incredible. The only reason it was remade was to scoop up a boatload of money from a more modern and accepting audience. But it is a completely different song than the other one that sounds slapped together in a few takes without a thought for the meaning.
This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive.
She not only stayed alive, she turned her hard beginnings around, became self sufficient, successful and someone with respect for herself. She didn't let the naysayers and judgers stop her. She's the one sitting in the drivers seat at the end.
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There is a huge difference between a singer who simply belts out a song that is on a page in front of them, and someone who can convey an entire experience with their voice. Telling not just a story with words, but taking you inside it and making you feel like you are there, with their interpretation.