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,
A key in the door, a step on the floor,
A note on the table, and a meal in the micro
note says I'm in bed, please make sure that you're fed
If you're taking a shower, you can borrow my bathrobe
And when I'm asleep I dream you move in next week
I crumple the note and save it to put inside
My shoe box (shoe box)
My shoe box of lies
It's under my bed, it's never been read
It's in with my school stuff and my mom never cleans there
From my first little fib, when I still wore a bib
To my latest attempt at pretending I'm someone
Who's not seventeen, and doesn't know what you mean
When talk turns to single malts, or stilton, or
My shoe box (shoe box)
My shoe box of lies
My shoe box (shoe box)
Shoe box of lies
Did somebody tell you
This is how it's supposed to be?
Or did you just find it
And you don't want any more from me?
Was it something I said, or was it something you read
That's making me think that I should never have come here
I can offer you lies, I can tell you goodbye,
I can tell you I'm sorry, but I can't tell the truth, dear
And what if I could? Would it do any good?
You'll still never get to see the contents of
My shoe box (shoe box)
Shoe box of lies
My shoe box (shoe box)
My shoe box of lies
You're so nineteen-ninety
And it's nineteen-ninety-four
Leave this world behind me
'Cause you don't want me anymore
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
A note on the table, and a meal in the micro
note says I'm in bed, please make sure that you're fed
If you're taking a shower, you can borrow my bathrobe
And when I'm asleep I dream you move in next week
I crumple the note and save it to put inside
My shoe box (shoe box)
My shoe box of lies
It's under my bed, it's never been read
It's in with my school stuff and my mom never cleans there
From my first little fib, when I still wore a bib
To my latest attempt at pretending I'm someone
Who's not seventeen, and doesn't know what you mean
When talk turns to single malts, or stilton, or
My shoe box (shoe box)
My shoe box of lies
My shoe box (shoe box)
Shoe box of lies
Did somebody tell you
This is how it's supposed to be?
Or did you just find it
And you don't want any more from me?
Was it something I said, or was it something you read
That's making me think that I should never have come here
I can offer you lies, I can tell you goodbye,
I can tell you I'm sorry, but I can't tell the truth, dear
And what if I could? Would it do any good?
You'll still never get to see the contents of
My shoe box (shoe box)
Shoe box of lies
My shoe box (shoe box)
My shoe box of lies
You're so nineteen-ninety
And it's nineteen-ninety-four
Leave this world behind me
'Cause you don't want me anymore
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
Lie
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Damn...I always thought it was "shoebox of life" until now too. It even inspired me to keep a shoebox of all the important random crap in my life. It's still a nice thing to do but there goes the explanation of why I do it...
this song is kind of like the famous movie the graduate. a senior in high school is having an afair with a married woman and it tells about covering up the lies
really cool song. Go BNL
Steven Page said this song is about a young guy having an affair with an older women. he's been lying to her for a long time and she doesn't realize how young he is. she has then asked him to move in with her and he's freaking out cuz he realizes things are gonna fall apart and that his lies are catching up to him. it's kinda like The Graduate, i don't think the female here i married though
This song is about a high school boy having an affair with a married woman.
I know what it's actually about thanks to BNL disc one, but there's more to a song than what the artist was thinking when they wrote it. It's also about what it makes us feel individually.
Until I got Disk One, I always assumed that the chorus was "shoebox of life" -- imagine my surprise. The woman isn't necessarily married, though ... just older. I love it even more, understanding its meaning. Man, though, what a change a word makes...
Until I got Disk One, I always assumed that the chorus was "shoebox of life" -- imagine my surprise. The woman isn't necessarily married, though ... just older. I love it even more, understanding its meaning. Man, though, what a change a word makes...
"you're so nineteen ninety and it's nineteen ninety four" Hehe. Got nothing else to say? Steven Page for President
Great song. When i went to see them in concert, we missed hafe the show, but the fact that they played this song made up for that completely since i hear they heardly ever play it in concert. Simplly great!!!
God I love BNL. This song is just so uplifting!