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,
It's been a long and a sad goodbye
For hellos and handshakes, to kisses and lies
Ask me that you'd like to know me well
Well you already have
You already do
Nobody does
And I guess it says something for you
I'm lost
I thank God I'm lost
I mean, what does anybody really even want
Ask me that you'd like to know me well
Well you already have
You already do
Nobody does
And I guess it says something for you
And I knew, I knew
I knew, I knew
All your lies were true
It's been a long and a sad goodbye
For hellos and handshakes, kisses and lies
Ask me that you'd like to know me well
Well you already have
You already do
Nobody does, nobody does
I guess it says something for you
For hellos and handshakes, to kisses and lies
Ask me that you'd like to know me well
Well you already have
You already do
Nobody does
And I guess it says something for you
I'm lost
I thank God I'm lost
I mean, what does anybody really even want
Ask me that you'd like to know me well
Well you already have
You already do
Nobody does
And I guess it says something for you
And I knew, I knew
I knew, I knew
All your lies were true
It's been a long and a sad goodbye
For hellos and handshakes, kisses and lies
Ask me that you'd like to know me well
Well you already have
You already do
Nobody does, nobody does
I guess it says something for you
Lyrics submitted by Beazer
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I cannot believe that this song hasn't been commented on.
My interpretation of the song is about someone who is still in love with someone that is painful to love. They are not together anymore, but they might still be friends, or they haven't seen each other in a while and realize that everything that they do or the mishaps they have in relationships are due to the other person. And that no one really knows them the way the other person does.
But I could be crazy.
This is about Ryan falling for someone, and remaining guarded..... the girl picks up on this and Ryan is saying he’s been more open with her than anyone else... but that doesn’t mean he’s been completely honest.
“All your lies were true”. To me, that is him coming to the realization that her honesty was met with him calling it nonsense for a long time.... long enough for the relationship to end. But in his mind, he knew it was exactly how he felt and she saw through his facade. He understands that now.