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: Full Moon Rising
In a state of fallen grace
With a smile upon it's face, IT CAME !
Full moon rising today
Like a child but fully grown
Like a star but not so far away !
It came here to take me away
CHORUS
This has never been before
While the sun burns bright as day
Light the sky - hold back no more
Let the full moon rise today
Full moon rising today
So there I was with my complaints
In the comfort of my restraints I stayed
I stayed and had nothing to say
But there it was returning for my eyes
Like a fire that's been burning up the sky
Full moon rising today
CHORUS
II: October Winds
There's a town I used to know
There's a place I used ti go to play
Laughin' all the way
Never thought of where I'd been
Autumn wind came creepin' in one day
Now summer's gone away
Summer's gone away ........... hey
When October winds lay down
When the heat can't melt the ground
And nothing matters anyway
When October winds take hold
When you're down that dank dark road
Maybe nothing matters anyway
III: Camouflaged In Blue
Dead on your feet you walk like no one's home
Out on the street you make your way alone
Soldier of fortune camouflaged in blue
Dawn turns to dusk you sail away in doubt
Love turns to lust you've turned it inside out
Soldier of fortuen camouflaged in blue (but I know you)
All that you are is not the things you do
You know it's true
All that you are is camouflaged in blue
You know it's true
Dead on your feet you walk like no one's home
Out on the street you make your way alone
Soldier of fortune camouflaged in blue
But I know you now
CHORUS
IV: Half Alive
Don't just sit there wasting your time on the phone
Don't be with that skank 'cause it hurts to be alone
And you swarm around like bees to the hive
And you look a man in full but you're half alive
One flew south, one to the east; one went to the west
You became the enemy just to be the best
Waiting for your dream to arrive
You're whole and you're complete but you're half alive
Waiting for your dream to arrive
You're whole and you're complete but you're half alive
V: Undying Love
Pressed to the wall of the rail station hall is the Venus de Milo
You walk through the park 'til the clouds seem to darken the sky
And you wish you could soften your mind
But you feel like they've lockd you in time
And you think you'll be perfectly fine once you get to the water
Suddenly you stop 'cause your feet just won't walk
Like there's someone awaiting
The moon seems alive and looks down on your life just to say
IT'S ALRIGHT
Innocence and undying love will reign
Innocence and undying love will reign
Hearing the call with your back to the wall in a wordless conundrum
Half of your life 'tween a rose and a knife ain't it time ?
You're sure to find
Innocence and undying love will reign
Innocence and undying love will reign
The world will soon be right again
Innocence and undying love will reign
The world will soon be right again
Innocence and undying love will reign
VI: Full Moon Rising (Reprise)
In a state of fallen grace, with a smile upon it's face, IT CAME !
... Full moon rising today
While the clock is turning fast, soak it up before it's passed away
Let it become what it may
This has never been before
While the sun burns bright as day
Light the sku - hold back no more
Let the full moon rise today, full moon rising today
Full moon rising today, full moon rising today
In a state of fallen grace
With a smile upon it's face, IT CAME !
Full moon rising today
Like a child but fully grown
Like a star but not so far away !
It came here to take me away
CHORUS
This has never been before
While the sun burns bright as day
Light the sky - hold back no more
Let the full moon rise today
Full moon rising today
So there I was with my complaints
In the comfort of my restraints I stayed
I stayed and had nothing to say
But there it was returning for my eyes
Like a fire that's been burning up the sky
Full moon rising today
CHORUS
II: October Winds
There's a town I used to know
There's a place I used ti go to play
Laughin' all the way
Never thought of where I'd been
Autumn wind came creepin' in one day
Now summer's gone away
Summer's gone away ........... hey
When October winds lay down
When the heat can't melt the ground
And nothing matters anyway
When October winds take hold
When you're down that dank dark road
Maybe nothing matters anyway
III: Camouflaged In Blue
Dead on your feet you walk like no one's home
Out on the street you make your way alone
Soldier of fortune camouflaged in blue
Dawn turns to dusk you sail away in doubt
Love turns to lust you've turned it inside out
Soldier of fortuen camouflaged in blue (but I know you)
All that you are is not the things you do
You know it's true
All that you are is camouflaged in blue
You know it's true
Dead on your feet you walk like no one's home
Out on the street you make your way alone
Soldier of fortune camouflaged in blue
But I know you now
CHORUS
IV: Half Alive
Don't just sit there wasting your time on the phone
Don't be with that skank 'cause it hurts to be alone
And you swarm around like bees to the hive
And you look a man in full but you're half alive
One flew south, one to the east; one went to the west
You became the enemy just to be the best
Waiting for your dream to arrive
You're whole and you're complete but you're half alive
Waiting for your dream to arrive
You're whole and you're complete but you're half alive
V: Undying Love
Pressed to the wall of the rail station hall is the Venus de Milo
You walk through the park 'til the clouds seem to darken the sky
And you wish you could soften your mind
But you feel like they've lockd you in time
And you think you'll be perfectly fine once you get to the water
Suddenly you stop 'cause your feet just won't walk
Like there's someone awaiting
The moon seems alive and looks down on your life just to say
IT'S ALRIGHT
Innocence and undying love will reign
Innocence and undying love will reign
Hearing the call with your back to the wall in a wordless conundrum
Half of your life 'tween a rose and a knife ain't it time ?
You're sure to find
Innocence and undying love will reign
Innocence and undying love will reign
The world will soon be right again
Innocence and undying love will reign
The world will soon be right again
Innocence and undying love will reign
VI: Full Moon Rising (Reprise)
In a state of fallen grace, with a smile upon it's face, IT CAME !
... Full moon rising today
While the clock is turning fast, soak it up before it's passed away
Let it become what it may
This has never been before
While the sun burns bright as day
Light the sku - hold back no more
Let the full moon rise today, full moon rising today
Full moon rising today, full moon rising today
Lyrics submitted by Idan
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This song is obviously about Dragon Ball Z. There's too many lyrical references to not be. Examples:
Full Moon Rising - Obvious reference to how Saiyan's transform under a Full Moon Like a child but fully grown - Goku Soldier of fortune camouflaged in blue - Vegeta One flew south, one to the east; one went to the west - Like Dragonballs after a wish is made You became the enemy just to be the best - Maijin Vegeta Innocence and undying love will reign - Goku wins out at the end, of course
Prove me wrong.
What an epic song! 30 minutes of musical bliss... it leaves you feeling so damn good! I haven't had a chance to really see what it means to me because I just zone out during this song. LOL I recommend it if you enjoy listening to musical masterpieces, and a very mellow one at that!
I think it's about a hole in a mans life. And his search to fill it. Killer record definitely a desert island pick
Who cares what it's about? I find that finding the meaning to epics like this ruins it.
Maybe you're on the wrong site then.
Can anyone make out what he's aying at the end? I hear something about the Beatles or something.
hmmmm... I'd have to say this is their weakest epic IMO