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,
Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
Anything that may desert you
So it cannot hurt you
You only have to look behind you
At who's underlined you
Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
What you touch do not feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
Anything that may delay you
Might just save you
You only have to look behind you
At who's underlined you
Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
Once you touch do not feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
Once you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
What you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
Destroy me this way
Anything that may desert you
So it cannot hurt you
You only have to look behind you
At who's underlined you
Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
What you touch do not feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
Anything that may delay you
Might just save you
You only have to look behind you
At who's underlined you
Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
Once you touch do not feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
Once you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
Everything you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Shakes your hand
Takes your gun
Walks you out of the sun
What you touch you don't feel
Do not know what you steal
Destroy everything you touch today
Please destroy me this way
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This was the first ladytron song I ever heard, I'm note even sure where I came across it (maybe while i was in liverpool?) It's one of my favorite songs. Anyway - heres my take... it's pretty literal... I take it as a person who is self-destructive and ruins things, almost on purpose, but is not necessarily aware of it. The singer sees this destructive nature, but is unable to distance themself b/c of caring about the person (or maybe being self-destructive as well).
"Anything that may desert you So it cannot hurt you" "You only have to look behind you At who’s underlined you" Anythng that may delay you, might just save you"
(You are ruining this relationship between us b/c of your fear. Push me away, but if you only looked at the past, you could see that I have been here for you. If you weren't in such a rush to leave, you might be able to see the value of the relationship).
Everything you touch you don’t feel Do not know what you steal Shakes your hand Takes your gun Walks you out of the sun
(You turn off your emotions, but I know they exist. I am trying to help/save you, but you have no idea how you make me feel or the love that you disregard.)
Destroy me this way - this part is pretty obvious.
thats all, just my input :)
@rachie128 -- My first Ladytron song was Ghosts, and like you, I have no idea how this song wound up in my roster of downloaded songs! Once I discovered who the artist is I had to suss ALL their music.