I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When I first saw you
Something stirred within me
You were standing sultry in the rain
If I could've held you
I would've held you
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
I hope to God you're not as dumb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And I hope to God I'm not as numb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And when I next saw you
My heart reached out for you
But my arms stuck like glue to my sides
If I could've held you
I would've held you
But I'd choke rather than swallow my pride
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
I hope to God you're not as dumb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And I hope to God I'm not as numb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And there was times I'd take my pen
And feel obliged to start again
I do profess
That there are things in life
That one can't quite express
You know me I'm acting dumb-dumb
You know this scene is very humdrum
And my favourite song's entitled 'boredom'
Rip it up and start again
I said rip it up and start again
I said rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and start again
Something stirred within me
You were standing sultry in the rain
If I could've held you
I would've held you
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
I hope to God you're not as dumb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And I hope to God I'm not as numb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And when I next saw you
My heart reached out for you
But my arms stuck like glue to my sides
If I could've held you
I would've held you
But I'd choke rather than swallow my pride
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
I hope to God you're not as dumb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And I hope to God I'm not as numb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God
And there was times I'd take my pen
And feel obliged to start again
I do profess
That there are things in life
That one can't quite express
You know me I'm acting dumb-dumb
You know this scene is very humdrum
And my favourite song's entitled 'boredom'
Rip it up and start again
I said rip it up and start again
I said rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and start again
Lyrics submitted by xpsychicheartsx
Rip It Up Lyrics as written by Travis William Collins Scott Raymond Greenaway
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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Well, it's been over a year since anyone's written anything on this song - and given it's not the least bit dated, I'll add that it's one of the most beautifully written, charted songs of the 80's. It's a fantastic example of reverence (revering the Buzzcocks) which the hipster/indie scene should take heed of. Mere covers are no match for the likes of this song, or in the same vein, The Fall's I am Damo Suzuki.
Very similar both musically and lyrically to Boredom by the Buzzcocks, but most obviously in the verse when he references the song directly. Here is the chorus from the Buzzcocks:
"You know me - I'm acting dumb you know the scene - very humdrum boredom - boredom"
I think that's quite self explanatory. I also think they did a rather good job with it; quite often when bands make references to their influences in song it doesn't come off too well but it worked here. The way Edwyn Collins sings it in comparison to Howard Devoto(?) from Buzzcocks adds quite a degree of ambiguity.
Personally, I prefer this song to the Buzzcock's Boredom (which is also a great song in its own right). <br /> <br /> I don't think that you can compare the two songs stylisticaly, which are very different despite the intentional similarity in the lyrics of the second half of the third verse 3 and the little bit of the guitar after that verse. <br /> <br /> This simolarity to me is very tounge in check and I think forms little of the backbone of Rip it Up. To use this knowing wink to a song that Edwyn Collins obviously liked and over compare it to Rip it Up does Orange Juice's song little justice. which I think is a classic.
Great song. Edwin precedes Morrissey in his crooning..
love this song. it's pretty self-explanatory, but I love the small buzzcocks reference ('boredom' was a buzzcocks song, and they were fans.)
actually, large reference because of all the lyrical similarities to 'Boredom', but there you go.
Yeah, I always took this song as a response to "Boredom" from start to finish. "Boredom" is all about getting nowhere in life, and this song basically says so what if you're a has-been...just "rip it up and start again".
its even got "Boredom"'s simple little solo on it. You can hear them playing it in the background after he says "And my favourite song's entitled 'boredom'".
a very nice book named after this song about Post-Punk was released, its a really good book.
i was just about to write about the book 'rip it up and start again' i wondered where the title came from if you like this music - please read the book - its excellent
The bass line is lifted straight from Chic - Edwyn said so
@KellKell It's true. From "Good Times."