Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Don't talk to me about justice, freedom, truth and democracy,
When all you left me were false hopes, lies, empty promises,
Now you're crying betrayal, demanding attention and sympathy,
You forget your own treason, your actions and the consequences
of your selfish behaviour, don't make out that you're the innocent party!
You played the cards you were dealt with unwisely; you didn't listen to me,
You tried to bluff once too often, you were called out, cheating in the first degree
Just a sheep in wolf's clothing, a cowboy, a charlatan a chevalier,
A naïve knave among princes you weren't quite what you appeared to be!
Now all you see is all you get; it's in your face, nowhere else left to hide,
Just face the truth and face the facts you're on your own, no one left on your side
You blame it all on the system you worked in you helped to perpetuate
You sold out all of your secrets; you sold short all your big ideas
You were flying too high not a care in the world you thought that you'd never come down;
You forgot all the rules, lost sight of the ground
Didn't think that you ever could fall,
A fool on the wing flew too close to the sun; you burned out and dropped out the sky,
And everyone stared but did anyone care
no-one remembers your name,
Now you can't trust your own instincts, you don't know who or what to believe,
You were blind in the spotlight you reached out for conspiracies.
There's times you feel you lost your mind, you've lost control the very will to survive,
Just pick yourself up of the ground, get dusted down, and get back in the fight
You were flying too high not a care in the world you thought that you'd never come down;
You forgot all the rules, lost sight of the ground
Didn't think that you ever could fall,
A fool on the wing flew too close to the sun; you burned out and dropped out the sky,
And everyone stared but did anyone care
No one remembers your name,
Now that you're down to your last hope, the long shot, now you're down on your knees,
Begging me for one last chance, one more golden opportunity
And all you see is all you get; it's in your face, nowhere else left to hide,
Just face the truth and face the facts you're on your own, no one left on your side
You once had the World at your feet but your conscience wandered in clouds,
You lost sight of your goals; your vision was blurred when the towers one day disappeared.
Everyone stared, no one believed as the images burned on our screens,
That a world had just changed, the dream evaporates, no more innocent parties!
When all you left me were false hopes, lies, empty promises,
Now you're crying betrayal, demanding attention and sympathy,
You forget your own treason, your actions and the consequences
of your selfish behaviour, don't make out that you're the innocent party!
You played the cards you were dealt with unwisely; you didn't listen to me,
You tried to bluff once too often, you were called out, cheating in the first degree
Just a sheep in wolf's clothing, a cowboy, a charlatan a chevalier,
A naïve knave among princes you weren't quite what you appeared to be!
Now all you see is all you get; it's in your face, nowhere else left to hide,
Just face the truth and face the facts you're on your own, no one left on your side
You blame it all on the system you worked in you helped to perpetuate
You sold out all of your secrets; you sold short all your big ideas
You were flying too high not a care in the world you thought that you'd never come down;
You forgot all the rules, lost sight of the ground
Didn't think that you ever could fall,
A fool on the wing flew too close to the sun; you burned out and dropped out the sky,
And everyone stared but did anyone care
no-one remembers your name,
Now you can't trust your own instincts, you don't know who or what to believe,
You were blind in the spotlight you reached out for conspiracies.
There's times you feel you lost your mind, you've lost control the very will to survive,
Just pick yourself up of the ground, get dusted down, and get back in the fight
You were flying too high not a care in the world you thought that you'd never come down;
You forgot all the rules, lost sight of the ground
Didn't think that you ever could fall,
A fool on the wing flew too close to the sun; you burned out and dropped out the sky,
And everyone stared but did anyone care
No one remembers your name,
Now that you're down to your last hope, the long shot, now you're down on your knees,
Begging me for one last chance, one more golden opportunity
And all you see is all you get; it's in your face, nowhere else left to hide,
Just face the truth and face the facts you're on your own, no one left on your side
You once had the World at your feet but your conscience wandered in clouds,
You lost sight of your goals; your vision was blurred when the towers one day disappeared.
Everyone stared, no one believed as the images burned on our screens,
That a world had just changed, the dream evaporates, no more innocent parties!
Lyrics submitted by BitterBosh
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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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I think this is about the breakdown of his marriage - although "You sold out all of your secrets" & "cheating in the first degree" have masonic connections. See also "A Field of Crows" which references "Jacob's Ladder" Which has again masonic connections. I'm not sure if Fish is a mason - but he did a fund raiser for Dalkeith Masonic Hall - which is the oldest purpose built Masonic Hall in the world.