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,
When I first saw the child brides
Two bridegroom boys at their side
Genevieve in union with Holy Communion
Marriane the younger wife
And the child brides
Went down to the water
Neptune calls out to his daughters
Throw yourself at the tide
I'll see you on the other side
In a loveless marriage - when I was fourteen
All brained knees and black knees
Then you come round here
With your fancy talk and your big ideas
What have you done with your wives
Bride of christ, bride of jesus
Bride of the fish when you're fathoms down
And the uncles and the brothers
With their Sunday suits on
Search the villages and towns
But the child brides
Two bridegroom boys at their side
Genevieve in union with Holy Communion
Marriane the younger wife
And the child brides
Went down to the water
Neptune calls out to his daughters
Throw yourself at the tide
I'll see you on the other side
In a loveless marriage - when I was fourteen
All brained knees and black knees
Then you come round here
With your fancy talk and your big ideas
What have you done with your wives
Bride of christ, bride of jesus
Bride of the fish when you're fathoms down
And the uncles and the brothers
With their Sunday suits on
Search the villages and towns
But the child brides
Lyrics submitted by enola
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