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,
Yeah, it's the swing
Ooh, yeah, it's the swing
Every day is a Saturday in the month of spring
Seems the world is full of girl looking out for that love thing
The hood's down, we're cruising downtown
Just hanging with my friends
The radio's ready to blow
We're getting in that vibe again
[Chorus]
When your body keeps swaying side to side
Your spirit is free, it feels good to be alive
Oh, yeah, that's the swing
When you're happy to face the day with a smile,
Open your heart, let somebody inside
Oh, yeah, that's the swing
Everyone is having fun like a holiday, yeah
Plain to see she's the one for me
Don't need words to communicate
The music's loud, we're fooling around
Just getting in the groove, yeah
The sun's out, a lot of people about
We're checking out the views
[Chorus]
It's a kind of faith that you believe
Can you free your soul to fly?
Kind of hope that makes you see
Your dreams can come to life
Here I am, and I'm gonna try to make you understand
About the things that I'm feeling
Cause the swing has got me reeling
Try thinking about the things that make you happy
And keep your dreams alive, 'cause people, this is how it can be
When you think that we're hanging and we're doing bad
Or we're just feeling things you never felt and never had
Cause when you wake up in the morning and your soul is singing,
That's when you're swinging
[Chorus]
Ooh, yeah, it's the swing
Every day is a Saturday in the month of spring
Seems the world is full of girl looking out for that love thing
The hood's down, we're cruising downtown
Just hanging with my friends
The radio's ready to blow
We're getting in that vibe again
[Chorus]
When your body keeps swaying side to side
Your spirit is free, it feels good to be alive
Oh, yeah, that's the swing
When you're happy to face the day with a smile,
Open your heart, let somebody inside
Oh, yeah, that's the swing
Everyone is having fun like a holiday, yeah
Plain to see she's the one for me
Don't need words to communicate
The music's loud, we're fooling around
Just getting in the groove, yeah
The sun's out, a lot of people about
We're checking out the views
[Chorus]
It's a kind of faith that you believe
Can you free your soul to fly?
Kind of hope that makes you see
Your dreams can come to life
Here I am, and I'm gonna try to make you understand
About the things that I'm feeling
Cause the swing has got me reeling
Try thinking about the things that make you happy
And keep your dreams alive, 'cause people, this is how it can be
When you think that we're hanging and we're doing bad
Or we're just feeling things you never felt and never had
Cause when you wake up in the morning and your soul is singing,
That's when you're swinging
[Chorus]
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