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,
You won`t take my love for tender
You can put your money where your mouth is
But you`re so unsure
I could be a miser or a big spender
But you might get much more than you bargained for
Check in on a checkmate
Grassing on a classmate
So beautiful and fortunate
You`re the one who hates to love
But he`s the one who loves to hate
He can fix you all for good
Because he is the neighborhood
You can get money for blood
Blood money for doing no good
Better tell me now, have you made your selection?
Are you ready for correction?
'Cause the wages of sin are an expensive infection
It`ll make you bankrupt
Better pay up now, don`t interrupt
So in love, I`m so sincere
Just like a well-known financier
You know I've never been corrupt
I`ll pay you a compliment
And you`ll think I am innocent
You can total up the balance sheet
And never know if I`m a counterfeit
You won`t take my love for tender...
You can put your money where your mouth is
But you`re so unsure
I could be a miser or a big spender
But you might get much more than you bargained for
Check in on a checkmate
Grassing on a classmate
So beautiful and fortunate
You`re the one who hates to love
But he`s the one who loves to hate
He can fix you all for good
Because he is the neighborhood
You can get money for blood
Blood money for doing no good
Better tell me now, have you made your selection?
Are you ready for correction?
'Cause the wages of sin are an expensive infection
It`ll make you bankrupt
Better pay up now, don`t interrupt
So in love, I`m so sincere
Just like a well-known financier
You know I've never been corrupt
I`ll pay you a compliment
And you`ll think I am innocent
You can total up the balance sheet
And never know if I`m a counterfeit
You won`t take my love for tender...
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I'd always thought of the meaning of "tender" as "something tendered or offered, esp. money, as in payment" while listening to this song, but it's only just occurred to me the play on "Love Me Tender".
Really love "You're the one who hates to love / but he's the one who loves to hate", "Because he is the neighborhood", and "Just like a well-known financier". He's a master of acerbic, unexpectic lyrics.
I always thought he said "the wages of sin are an expensive affliction".