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,
take, take these words in
take them like you did the foreign excitement
you bleed, lust, choke, so was it worth it
did you get what you wanted, the silent type
did you even come close, did they let you taste it
i can see how the rush, and the heat, and the touch
of a stranger gets you going
you're feeling selfish, you've got the urge
don't bother keeping your heavy breathing down
for the one who can't hear you scream
never pass off your guilt lines
just wear them like a noose on your neck
i'll help you keep it tied tight
when you feel you're close to coming
just think about that perfect subtle demon
that you've been dreaming into the light, keep it tied tight
unlike the way you've become "city feature"
you'd love to let them rip you apart
rinse and repeat, until you feel clean
but when it's over he won't take back what is left
i can see how the speed, and the sting, and the wings
on the plane home make you nervous
oh, mr. shoddy content swept all your dignity under the covers
she'll be lying, keeping secrets, keeping quiet
now you understand what it's like to dive
take it back, taken back, she forgets you
now she pleads "forgive me again, it's the last time i will"
never pass off your guilt lines
just wear them like a noose on your neck
i'll help you keep it tied tight
you're the worst actor that i've ever seen,
but if this script called for liars, you'd play the lead
"when you've changed, i'll change"
what it's like again. what you don't see
while you sleep, three year deceiver, you're not fooling
never pass off your guilt lines
just wear them like a noose on your neck
i'll help you keep it tied tight
take them like you did the foreign excitement
you bleed, lust, choke, so was it worth it
did you get what you wanted, the silent type
did you even come close, did they let you taste it
i can see how the rush, and the heat, and the touch
of a stranger gets you going
you're feeling selfish, you've got the urge
don't bother keeping your heavy breathing down
for the one who can't hear you scream
never pass off your guilt lines
just wear them like a noose on your neck
i'll help you keep it tied tight
when you feel you're close to coming
just think about that perfect subtle demon
that you've been dreaming into the light, keep it tied tight
unlike the way you've become "city feature"
you'd love to let them rip you apart
rinse and repeat, until you feel clean
but when it's over he won't take back what is left
i can see how the speed, and the sting, and the wings
on the plane home make you nervous
oh, mr. shoddy content swept all your dignity under the covers
she'll be lying, keeping secrets, keeping quiet
now you understand what it's like to dive
take it back, taken back, she forgets you
now she pleads "forgive me again, it's the last time i will"
never pass off your guilt lines
just wear them like a noose on your neck
i'll help you keep it tied tight
you're the worst actor that i've ever seen,
but if this script called for liars, you'd play the lead
"when you've changed, i'll change"
what it's like again. what you don't see
while you sleep, three year deceiver, you're not fooling
never pass off your guilt lines
just wear them like a noose on your neck
i'll help you keep it tied tight
Lyrics submitted by Seanie
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
"never pass off your guilt lines just wear them like a noose on your neck i'll help you keep it tied tight you're the worst actor that i've ever seen, but if this script called for liars, you'd play the lead"
AND
"you bleed, lust, choke, so was it worth it did you get what you wanted, the silent type did you even come close, did they let you taste it i can see how the rush, and the heat, and the touch of a stranger gets you going you're feeling selfish, you've got the urge don't bother keeping your heavy breathing down for the one who can't hear you scream"
both of those phrases are telling the slut that basically if she's going to cheat on her, just to say it and that he knows her "I'm sorry" lines are just plain bullshit and he's not falling for them again.