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,
Sarah
Won't you tell me your name
I've been waiting here for hours
In the garden by the flowers
You're so shy
So just open your eyes
The boys all form a line to be written out in time
A long, long, long, long time ago
Emergency
I think I am falling apart
Emergency
I think I am losing the fight
And I don't know if I can do it
I don't know if I can try
I don't know if anyone asked me the reason I lied
She sighed
Sarah
Is she your new best friend
One day it will end, you know it will
You're so shy
So just let it fall apart
Let it stumble in the dark
With the razors in your heart
A long, long, long, long time ago
Emergency
I think I am falling apart
Emergency
I think I am losing the fight
And I don't know if I can do it
I don't know if I can try
I don't know if anyone asked me the reason I lied
She sighed
She sighed
Emergency
I think I am falling apart
Emergency
I think I am losing the fight
And I don't know if I can do it
I don't know if I can try
I don't know if anyone asked me the reason I lied
She sighed
She sighed
Won't you tell me your name
I've been waiting here for hours
In the garden by the flowers
You're so shy
So just open your eyes
The boys all form a line to be written out in time
A long, long, long, long time ago
Emergency
I think I am falling apart
Emergency
I think I am losing the fight
And I don't know if I can do it
I don't know if I can try
I don't know if anyone asked me the reason I lied
She sighed
Sarah
Is she your new best friend
One day it will end, you know it will
You're so shy
So just let it fall apart
Let it stumble in the dark
With the razors in your heart
A long, long, long, long time ago
Emergency
I think I am falling apart
Emergency
I think I am losing the fight
And I don't know if I can do it
I don't know if I can try
I don't know if anyone asked me the reason I lied
She sighed
She sighed
Emergency
I think I am falling apart
Emergency
I think I am losing the fight
And I don't know if I can do it
I don't know if I can try
I don't know if anyone asked me the reason I lied
She sighed
She sighed
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
what's with the whole: won't u tell me your name? i mean doesn't he say her name? other than that, its not a bad song