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,
And suddenly, I don't feel fat anymore
I don't count my blackheads as a hobby
I don't count the marks on the wall
And I don't sleep well at all
There is someone else right beside me
He kept every secret I told
He giggled his way straight through fall
And I don't sleep well at all
He knows when I'm happy and nods when I'm sad
And he puts out when I come home drunk
And suddenly I stand real tall
But I don't sleep well at all
I have seen too many movies
I have read too many books
I'm the kind that sees sun and brings an umbrella
I have been to fortune tellers
And I know love will leave you all crooked
And I know he'll start sleeping around
Or start listening to symphony rock
Or throw out the key and change the lock
But I don't sleep well at all
I don't count my blackheads as a hobby
I don't count the marks on the wall
And I don't sleep well at all
There is someone else right beside me
He kept every secret I told
He giggled his way straight through fall
And I don't sleep well at all
He knows when I'm happy and nods when I'm sad
And he puts out when I come home drunk
And suddenly I stand real tall
But I don't sleep well at all
I have seen too many movies
I have read too many books
I'm the kind that sees sun and brings an umbrella
I have been to fortune tellers
And I know love will leave you all crooked
And I know he'll start sleeping around
Or start listening to symphony rock
Or throw out the key and change the lock
But I don't sleep well at all
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think it's about being with someone who you're no longer into. She's lost her insecurity about being fat because she doesn't care what he thinks.
"There's someone else right beside me, he's kept every secret I've told; he giggled his way straight through Fall..."
She's with a decent man who doesn't excite her. He's a bit of a goof. She doesn't respect him. She's going to break him by the end of the song.
"He knows when I'm happy and nods when I'm sad, and he puts out when I come home drunk."
He is kind to her and puts up with her dysfunction. She's not getting better.
The next stanza, I think, is her feeling like she has no choice to leave him bc she has romantized love. She wants more. She's read too many movies and books about how amazing love can be. She's been to fortune tellers bc she wants to know if she's making a mistake by leaving him.
The last stanza feels to me like her coping with how she's ruined her ex's life. Love will leave him crooked. He's going to start sleeping around or maybe become a loner listening to symphony rock. He'll never talk to her again. But what can she do? She's unhappy. She's not sleeping well.
This song hit me so hard.
For me it is about the lack of letting go of your fears and commiting to a new love because you think it will end bad anyway. The inability to be happy due to a lack of trust and hope. The inability to live in the moment.