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,
Live for yourself
Today or tomorrow
Look after your health
Forget all your sorrows
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
It's never to late
For you to do
You don't have to wait
For the sun to go through
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
I know a way
Of sipping the truth
Go back to the days
Before your youth
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
As an innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Today or tomorrow
Look after your health
Forget all your sorrows
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
It's never to late
For you to do
You don't have to wait
For the sun to go through
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
I know a way
Of sipping the truth
Go back to the days
Before your youth
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
I wish I could've seen you
When you could run wild
I would've liked to know you
As an innocent child
Innocent child
As an innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Innocent child
Lyrics submitted by elixir808
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great tune. mick jones is a great songwriter. check out the film Amongst Friends, this tune is in it, and explains it perfectly.