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,
Don't tell me that this is your last chance to change
'Cause if you do, then you would be telling a lie but
I warned you, what could happen if you should decide
To live your life from nine to five
And I mourn you for the detail that is left unsaid
Is a reminder of the time you bled
Return to days when you knew
You still you felt alive
Reveal the way you felt
When you could look inside
They sold you everything you need to fix you up
And you feel good now but you can't wake up
They found a way to reassure you
(That everything would be okay)
Reach out today now I implore you to remember who you are
Return to days when you knew
You still you felt alive
Reveal the way you felt
When you could look inside
So you felt it but you don't know
Why you can't explain at all?
Why you felt it? 'Cause you don't know
No, you don't know
Break the walls between building atrophy
Causing all your problems to recede
Break the walls between
(Break the walls between)
Causing all your pain
(Causing all your pain)
You'll never learn
Return to days when you knew
You still felt alive
Reveal the way you felt
When you could look inside
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
'Cause if you do, then you would be telling a lie but
I warned you, what could happen if you should decide
To live your life from nine to five
And I mourn you for the detail that is left unsaid
Is a reminder of the time you bled
Return to days when you knew
You still you felt alive
Reveal the way you felt
When you could look inside
They sold you everything you need to fix you up
And you feel good now but you can't wake up
They found a way to reassure you
(That everything would be okay)
Reach out today now I implore you to remember who you are
Return to days when you knew
You still you felt alive
Reveal the way you felt
When you could look inside
So you felt it but you don't know
Why you can't explain at all?
Why you felt it? 'Cause you don't know
No, you don't know
Break the walls between building atrophy
Causing all your problems to recede
Break the walls between
(Break the walls between)
Causing all your pain
(Causing all your pain)
You'll never learn
Return to days when you knew
You still felt alive
Reveal the way you felt
When you could look inside
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
Take back the beat in your heart
Why fight when you can't be bought
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Page
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“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.
Wow.. honestly I guess you could take this song a couple ways... but it just reminds me of personal experiences...
Like being so numb that you dont remember anything, you dont remember living or feeling or even breathing... You fall into the routine of whats expected of you. "I warned you what could happen if you should decide to live your life from 9 to 5" to me that says the daily faking of happiness, you do what's expected, no more no less, you cant let them see you mess up.
"and I mourn you for the detail that is left unsaid is a reminder of the time you bled return to days when you knew you still felt alive " That reminds me of when I used to do some stupid shit... You never told anyone about it.. it was between you and the razor, you bled to remind you that it was real, and that you were in fact alive.
"they sold you everything you need to fix you up and you feel good now but you can't wake up they found a way to reassure you that everything would be okay" That reminds me of medication and whatnot... They sell you what you need to be "fixed" in their eyes, and you do feel good I guess, but its like it's all fake, you're dreaming constantly, more numb then the way you were before, you just dont realize as many bad things,, they make you feel like everythings okay even though you know its not..
"So you felt it, but you dont know, why you can't explain at all why you felt it cuz you dont know, no you dont know" Being so numb that you know you felt something, you know you did something, yet you have no idea why.... Like you remember doing something so vividly, yet at the same time you cant remember if you actually did it or not...
but thats just my personal relation to this song.... I love RJA
took the words right out of my mouth. It could not have been said better. love them too
even though im replying sooo late.....this is exactly what ive been thinking all this time ive listened to this song. give or take a few things but this was it. love RJA as well