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,
LIVES ON A FARM, GOT PLENTY OF CHARM, BEEP, BEEP.
HE'S GOT NO COWS BUT HE'S SURE GOT A WHOLE LOTTA SHEEP.
AND BRAND NEW WIFE AND A FAMILY,
AND WHEN HE COMES TO TOWN,
I WONDER IF HE'LL PLAY WITH ME.
LAYING IN BED, WATCHING TV, COOKIE!
WITH HIS MAMA BY HIS SIDE, SHE'S JAPANESE.
THEY SCREAM AND THEY CRIED, NOW THEY'RE FREE,
AND WHEN HE COMES TO TOWN,
I KNOW HE'S GONNA PLAY WITH ME.
HE'S A LONG-HAIRED, CROSS-LEGGED GUITAR PICKER, UM-UM.
WITH HIS LONG-LEGGED LADY IN THE GARDEN PICKING DAISIES FOR HIS SOUP.
A FORTY ACRE HOUSE HE DOESN'T SEE,
'CAUSE HE'S ALWAYS IN TOWN
PLAYING FOR YOU WITH ME.
I PLAY GUITAR, A - D - E.
I DON'T PLAY BASS 'CAUSE THAT'S TOO HARD FOR ME.
I PLAY THE PIANO IF IT'S IN C.
AND WHEN I GO TO TOWN I WANNA SEE ALL THREE,
AND WHEN I GO TO TOWN I WANNA SEE ALL THREE,
AND WHEN I GO TO TOWN I WANNA SEE ALL THREE.
HE'S GOT NO COWS BUT HE'S SURE GOT A WHOLE LOTTA SHEEP.
AND BRAND NEW WIFE AND A FAMILY,
AND WHEN HE COMES TO TOWN,
I WONDER IF HE'LL PLAY WITH ME.
LAYING IN BED, WATCHING TV, COOKIE!
WITH HIS MAMA BY HIS SIDE, SHE'S JAPANESE.
THEY SCREAM AND THEY CRIED, NOW THEY'RE FREE,
AND WHEN HE COMES TO TOWN,
I KNOW HE'S GONNA PLAY WITH ME.
HE'S A LONG-HAIRED, CROSS-LEGGED GUITAR PICKER, UM-UM.
WITH HIS LONG-LEGGED LADY IN THE GARDEN PICKING DAISIES FOR HIS SOUP.
A FORTY ACRE HOUSE HE DOESN'T SEE,
'CAUSE HE'S ALWAYS IN TOWN
PLAYING FOR YOU WITH ME.
I PLAY GUITAR, A - D - E.
I DON'T PLAY BASS 'CAUSE THAT'S TOO HARD FOR ME.
I PLAY THE PIANO IF IT'S IN C.
AND WHEN I GO TO TOWN I WANNA SEE ALL THREE,
AND WHEN I GO TO TOWN I WANNA SEE ALL THREE,
AND WHEN I GO TO TOWN I WANNA SEE ALL THREE.
Lyrics submitted by ruben
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The last verse is about himself, of course.
Yeah, Definitely...
good job! for the both of you.
Well, I think that was easy to figure out.
The first verse refers to Paul McCartney, the second refers to John Lennon, and the third to George Harrison.
That's simple enough.
The reference to cookies in the 2nd verse about John Lennon refers to the song Hold On, on John's first solo studio album. Listen for the froggy voiced uttering of cookie in that song.