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,
Pardon me for saying so
But you look more pitiful
Than I had ever imagined
Despite perfect fashion
And your photographs depict you so differently
I always thought you would be
Some sort of match for me
So let's decide who can survive
Jumping feet and racing beats
Of hearts that don't ever slow
Then I'll write letters on white paper
Expressing my deep disappointment
Dripping where I stand
From my watery hands
Hoping to get past the open bedroom door
Where her clothes on the floor
Remind me of our conversation
The feeling of slight hesitation
To turn out the light
Fourteen days now (I'm not)
Since we started (I'm not hiding)
To complicate the situation (From this situation)
I'm not hiding (I'm not)
I'm just buying some time (I'm not hiding)
For us to find the back door (From this situation)
We will come out
When it's safe for us
When it's safe for us
When it's safe for us
Us
For us
All
There's nothing left to say (Don't believe me)
To excuse the way that I behaved (When I say it's over)
I still feel him
Gripping like a stain (By the time you're gone)
To this fabric (It's almost over)
Torn at every seam
Thrown away
I'm without regret
I will not forget
I'm without regret
I will not forget
Why should I take all the blame for all my mistakes? (I?m without regret)
You were there with every promise made to break (I will not forget)
When did you become the one without regret? (I?m without regret)
Kill me, burn me down, I swear I won't forget (I will not forget)
When did you become the one without regret (Kill me, kill me)
Kill me, burn me down, I swear I won't forget (Kill me, kill me)
But you look more pitiful
Than I had ever imagined
Despite perfect fashion
And your photographs depict you so differently
I always thought you would be
Some sort of match for me
So let's decide who can survive
Jumping feet and racing beats
Of hearts that don't ever slow
Then I'll write letters on white paper
Expressing my deep disappointment
Dripping where I stand
From my watery hands
Hoping to get past the open bedroom door
Where her clothes on the floor
Remind me of our conversation
The feeling of slight hesitation
To turn out the light
Fourteen days now (I'm not)
Since we started (I'm not hiding)
To complicate the situation (From this situation)
I'm not hiding (I'm not)
I'm just buying some time (I'm not hiding)
For us to find the back door (From this situation)
We will come out
When it's safe for us
When it's safe for us
When it's safe for us
Us
For us
All
There's nothing left to say (Don't believe me)
To excuse the way that I behaved (When I say it's over)
I still feel him
Gripping like a stain (By the time you're gone)
To this fabric (It's almost over)
Torn at every seam
Thrown away
I'm without regret
I will not forget
I'm without regret
I will not forget
Why should I take all the blame for all my mistakes? (I?m without regret)
You were there with every promise made to break (I will not forget)
When did you become the one without regret? (I?m without regret)
Kill me, burn me down, I swear I won't forget (I will not forget)
When did you become the one without regret (Kill me, kill me)
Kill me, burn me down, I swear I won't forget (Kill me, kill me)
Lyrics submitted by staywhatyouare2, edited by donovan7fl
Playing with Fire Lyrics as written by Devin Shelton Dave Powell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
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.
"Pardon me for saying so, but you look more pitiful Than I had ever imagined, despite perfect fashion And your photographs depict you so differently I always thought you would be, Some sort of match for me."
I think this happens to a lot of us, who look at someone without really knowing themmuch beforehand and imagine that they may be perfect for us, but usually the image can be a facade, and they are totally different than what you imagined.
"So let’s decide who can survive Stomping feet and racing beats Of hearts that don’t ever slower."
Being caught up in the moment.
"Then I’ll write letters on white paper Expressing my deep disappointment."
I think the note of 'white paper' signifies purity and he is writing his disappointment,his mistakes on it. A way of expressing his regret as well as symbolizing that a mark has been left on said purity.
"Dripping where I stand From my watery hands."
He takes a shower hoping to wash away the guilt of what he's just done.
"Hoping to get past the open bedroom door Where her clothes on the floor Remind me of our conversation The feeling of slight hesitation To turn out the light."
Urges to turn off the light/ignore what has just happened.
"Fourteen days now aince we started To complicate the situation."
It's been fourteen days and the complication only grows.
"I’m not hiding, I’m just buying some time. For us to find the back door (From this situation)."
Perhaps he hasn't spoken to her much since, caught in the disappointment of his situation, trying to find a way out.
"There’s nothing left to say To excuse the way that I behaved. I still feel him gripping like a stain To this fabric Torn at every seam Thrown away"
Satan.
"Why should I take all the blame for all my mistakes? (I’m without regret) You were there with every promise made to break (I will not forget) When did you become the one without regret? (I’m without regret) Kill me, burn me down, I swear I won’t forget (I will not forget) When did you become the one without regret (Kill me, kill me) Kill me, burn me down, I swear I won’t forget (Kill me, kill me)."
I think he is having such a hard time with what has happened and she is not finding it to be such a deal. He finds it hard to deal with her carelessness, and ultimately I think only time will heal.