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,
Let me know that I've done wrong
When I've known this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (just another regret)
(Hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know?
When we live such fragile lives
It's the best way we survive
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (just another regret)
(Hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know?
The way she feels inside (inside)
Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
These sleeping dogs won't lie (won't lie)
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart
Trace this line back
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (just another regret)
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (Just another regret)
(Hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret, dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Who has to know?
Who has to know?
When I've known this all along
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (just another regret)
(Hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know?
When we live such fragile lives
It's the best way we survive
I go around a time or two
Just to waste my time with you
Tell me all that you've thrown away
Find out games you don't wanna play
You are the only one that needs to know
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (just another regret)
(Hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret
Who has to know?
The way she feels inside (inside)
Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)
These sleeping dogs won't lie (won't lie)
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart
Trace this line back
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (just another regret)
I'll keep you my dirty little secret (dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret (Just another regret)
(Hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret, dirty little secret
Dirty little secret
Who has to know?
Who has to know?
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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/
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think it's about the "other" girl in his life. He has a girlfriend, but this song is about the "buddy" he has on the side that he's trying to hide, and not doing a great job at possibly because the "other" girl is a mutual friend within his group of friends.
So he's telling her that he's going to keep this all on the DL, and she should too because if she does, she'll just be another regret he has.
LOL. Just maybe he's her's ;)