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,
I can't tolerate your sadness
'Cause it's me you are drowning (drowning)
I won't allow (allow) any happiness
'Cause every time you laugh
I feel so guilty (guilty)
I feel so guilty
Am I forced to have any regret
I've become the lie, beautiful and free
In my righteous own mind
I adore and preach the insanity you gave to me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
I've lost the ability to paint the clouds
'Cause it's me you're draining (you're draining me)
I'm stuck in this slow-motion dark day
'Cause every time you run
I fall behind (behind)
I fall behind
And so I hear my voice again
The tale of the bitter man, here I am
Shake the silence and hear what it says
The tranquil pride that become the lie
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
On bleeding knees
Now I accept my fate
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
On bleeding knees
Now I accept my fate
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
On bleeding knees
Now I accept my fate
'Cause it's me you are drowning (drowning)
I won't allow (allow) any happiness
'Cause every time you laugh
I feel so guilty (guilty)
I feel so guilty
Am I forced to have any regret
I've become the lie, beautiful and free
In my righteous own mind
I adore and preach the insanity you gave to me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
I've lost the ability to paint the clouds
'Cause it's me you're draining (you're draining me)
I'm stuck in this slow-motion dark day
'Cause every time you run
I fall behind (behind)
I fall behind
And so I hear my voice again
The tale of the bitter man, here I am
Shake the silence and hear what it says
The tranquil pride that become the lie
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
On bleeding knees
Now I accept my fate
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
On bleeding knees
Now I accept my fate
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
No need for sympathy
The misery that is me
Sell me the infection
It is only for the weak
On bleeding knees
Now I accept my fate
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"I adore and preach the insanity you gave"
should be
"I adore and preach the insanity you gave to me"