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,
[Chorus: x2]
Been a long time
You say you missed me
Word gets round
You shouldn't have dissed me
Step back, don't try to kiss me
Right about now I'm 50/50
I heard it through the grapevine that you were with him
Just the other night
I don't know why I
Try hard to keep
You so happy
When you don't love me
Don't Love me
Are you calling me a liar?
Are you saying that
I'm not tellin' the truth?
Denying what she told me
You know you got way
Too much to lose
You're claiming they are rumours
You say you got nothin' else to hide
How come she told me?
She saw somebody by your side
[Chorus: x2]
I know everything
When I sent you on
That shopping spree
You went with him
Spending my money
Girl I'm so sorry
But you gotta leave me,
Just leave me
Are you calling me a liar?
Are you saying that
I'm not tellin' the truth?
Denying what she told me
You know you got way
Too much to lose
You're claiming they are rumours
You say you got nothin' else to hide
How come she told me?
She saw somebody by your side
[Chorus: x2]
Can't knock this no you
Can't hold me down
Keep hustling - girl I
Won't be around
Can't knock this no you
Can't hold me down
Keep hustling - girl I
Won't be around
[Chorus: x2]
Been a long time
You say you missed me
Word gets round
You shouldn't have dissed me
Step back, don't try to kiss me
Right about now I'm 50/50
I heard it through the grapevine that you were with him
Just the other night
I don't know why I
Try hard to keep
You so happy
When you don't love me
Don't Love me
Are you calling me a liar?
Are you saying that
I'm not tellin' the truth?
Denying what she told me
You know you got way
Too much to lose
You're claiming they are rumours
You say you got nothin' else to hide
How come she told me?
She saw somebody by your side
[Chorus: x2]
I know everything
When I sent you on
That shopping spree
You went with him
Spending my money
Girl I'm so sorry
But you gotta leave me,
Just leave me
Are you calling me a liar?
Are you saying that
I'm not tellin' the truth?
Denying what she told me
You know you got way
Too much to lose
You're claiming they are rumours
You say you got nothin' else to hide
How come she told me?
She saw somebody by your side
[Chorus: x2]
Can't knock this no you
Can't hold me down
Keep hustling - girl I
Won't be around
Can't knock this no you
Can't hold me down
Keep hustling - girl I
Won't be around
[Chorus: x2]
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hes found out shes been cheating with another bloke,a nd hes gutted. hes 50/50 whetther to stay with her or to leave her for it and he doesn;t know what to do. But she kee[ps denying it, and he knows hes lying to him so at the end he says 'keep hustling girl i wont be around'. meaning if she cheats hes out. however i dont know if this means hes left her, or whether shes got one more chance
Nice song, he found out his girlfriend's been messing around with some other guy and splashing his cash with him. She's saying she hasn't and he's 50/50 whether to believe her and stay with her or just leave her. Cool song, really makes a point. :)