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,
Oh, did you think that I was kidding?
Oh, did you think that I was?
Oh, too late, too late...
Aw, too late motherfucker!
Must remember to keep both feet on the ground
Everything in my life is turning round
Then... we're the only ones
We're gods, not demons
Zen
Zen
Zen...on the way I'm feeling
Zen...on the way we're feeling
On we go...we're waiting now...
Are you looking at me?
... Why do you keep looking at me?
... Am I not merciful?
Yes! we're the only ones
We're gods and demons
Zen
Zen
Zen... on the way I'm feeling
Zen... on the way we're feeling
Zen... on the way I'm feeling
Zen... on the way we're feeling
Connect now and emerge.
Oh, did you think that I was?
Oh, too late, too late...
Aw, too late motherfucker!
Must remember to keep both feet on the ground
Everything in my life is turning round
Then... we're the only ones
We're gods, not demons
Zen
Zen
Zen...on the way I'm feeling
Zen...on the way we're feeling
On we go...we're waiting now...
Are you looking at me?
... Why do you keep looking at me?
... Am I not merciful?
Yes! we're the only ones
We're gods and demons
Zen
Zen
Zen... on the way I'm feeling
Zen... on the way we're feeling
Zen... on the way I'm feeling
Zen... on the way we're feeling
Connect now and emerge.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i get the impression that most of this album is based around relationships between men and women. this song seems to be an inward reflection of some thoughts he has. this thinking is inclusive of the partner, hence all the changes in singular and plural, from 'way I'm feeling' to 'way we're feeling' and stuff.
Sounds like hes changing his ways, maybe moving away? I did think it maybe him holding someone in capture, 'did you think that I was kidding' and 'why do you keep looking at me, am I not merciful' if he captured them in the name of love then it could be seen as good an bad 'god and deamons' That would make sense being 'Love' is on the album.
I think a pretty good number of songs in Alien deal with Dev's inner-battles and I think this is one of them. Even the title of the album can reference the feeling of an alien presence in his mind at times.
The meaning is very straight forward in my honest opinion. It's him finding peace with the things expressed through out the album and having learned to find a state of zen in the way things are and just excepting it. Remembering not to lose your cool and go insane or into an alien place which could drive a person crazy.
Just my personal thoughts on the song.
Wow when typing out expected and erasing to put accepted I spelled it wrong. :/
funny song, it makes me happier, don't know why... does anybody have some ideas about the meaning?
Well, Devin is bipolar, and this song sounds like he's having a mood shift from low to incredibly high.
Very atmospheric. Best played at loud volume. Meaning to me, later