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,
Please don't suffer
Gotta just make it quick
You thought you had it
You don't now what it takes to beg
You lost your cause
You lost your time to kill
You won't matter much
When they all got their feel
Mothers teach you to crawl
Fathers teach you to rise or fall
Mothers grieve for a son
Fathers teach you
"You're on your own"
I won't quiver
I don't squirm a sweat
You lost our gun you got
Nothing to make a fist
Incinerator
I'll just flip a switch
Forget we did it
And you and I will face this hell
Mothers teach to crawl
Fathers teach you to rise or fall
Mothers grief for a son
Fathers teach you to take it on
All my fears awakening
I've let them back
All this flash before my eyes
I never had
Where's your consultation?
Now listen flies
"Walk my son, I've taught you well
You're on your way down"
Fuck the past I'm up and gone as well
(You couldn't of lied, your curse is made)
I'm coming fast you got nothing left to say
(You never saw it, your curse is conscience)
In the end you've got no answers
(You couldn't of lied, your curse is made)
So much feeling you don't know how to take my hand
(You never saw it, your curse is conscience)
Mothers teach you to crawl
Fathers teach to you rise or fall
Lessons a pig for a son
Never see what you're reaching for
Mothers teach you to crawl
Fathers teach you're on your own
Mothers teach you to take what you waited
Gotta just make it quick
You thought you had it
You don't now what it takes to beg
You lost your cause
You lost your time to kill
You won't matter much
When they all got their feel
Mothers teach you to crawl
Fathers teach you to rise or fall
Mothers grieve for a son
Fathers teach you
"You're on your own"
I won't quiver
I don't squirm a sweat
You lost our gun you got
Nothing to make a fist
Incinerator
I'll just flip a switch
Forget we did it
And you and I will face this hell
Mothers teach to crawl
Fathers teach you to rise or fall
Mothers grief for a son
Fathers teach you to take it on
All my fears awakening
I've let them back
All this flash before my eyes
I never had
Where's your consultation?
Now listen flies
"Walk my son, I've taught you well
You're on your way down"
Fuck the past I'm up and gone as well
(You couldn't of lied, your curse is made)
I'm coming fast you got nothing left to say
(You never saw it, your curse is conscience)
In the end you've got no answers
(You couldn't of lied, your curse is made)
So much feeling you don't know how to take my hand
(You never saw it, your curse is conscience)
Mothers teach you to crawl
Fathers teach to you rise or fall
Lessons a pig for a son
Never see what you're reaching for
Mothers teach you to crawl
Fathers teach you're on your own
Mothers teach you to take what you waited
Lyrics submitted by playgroundlove
Rise or Fall Lyrics as written by Peter Hayes Nicholas Jago
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this song....wow. the gasp at the beginning, the way he shrieks BANG! You're Alive! at the end. its an attack on the typical american family unit, BRMC's saying that it doesn't exist as such. or something. its like a big fuck you to family. although sometimes i get this feeling its about sex _-> "i wont quiver, i dont squirm or sweat" and "god just make it quick" or it could just be one of those songs that are throwing ervything around the room in anger. whatever it is, i love it and it couldn't be better.