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,
Tell me, do something true
True love, you and me
That we're too busy living through,
Too busy to see.
What is it, that we do
Makes us who we are?
If we sing are we nightingales?
Shine are we stars?
Who are we,
What we've got?
Are we a fireworks show,
Growing pale like a star that burned out years ago?
Stranger things have been, stranger things have gone.
I find it hard right now
To name you one.
Tell me, do something true and drop the fairy tales.
If singing birds must sing with no question of choice
Then living is our song.
Indeed our voice, best agree
You and me, we're probably nightingales.
God's a proud thundercloud
We are cartoon cats
We're the thing that is biblical
Under our hats.
Who are we,
What we've got?
Are we a fireworks show,
Growing pale like a star that burned out years ago?
Stranger things have been, stranger things have gone.
I find it hard right now
To name you one.
Tell me, do something true and drop the fairy tales.
If singing birds must sing with no question of choice
Then living is our song.
Indeed our voice, best agree
You and me, we're probably nightingales.
True love, you and me
That we're too busy living through,
Too busy to see.
What is it, that we do
Makes us who we are?
If we sing are we nightingales?
Shine are we stars?
Who are we,
What we've got?
Are we a fireworks show,
Growing pale like a star that burned out years ago?
Stranger things have been, stranger things have gone.
I find it hard right now
To name you one.
Tell me, do something true and drop the fairy tales.
If singing birds must sing with no question of choice
Then living is our song.
Indeed our voice, best agree
You and me, we're probably nightingales.
God's a proud thundercloud
We are cartoon cats
We're the thing that is biblical
Under our hats.
Who are we,
What we've got?
Are we a fireworks show,
Growing pale like a star that burned out years ago?
Stranger things have been, stranger things have gone.
I find it hard right now
To name you one.
Tell me, do something true and drop the fairy tales.
If singing birds must sing with no question of choice
Then living is our song.
Indeed our voice, best agree
You and me, we're probably nightingales.
Lyrics submitted by morganitisss
Nightingales Lyrics as written by Paddy Mcaloon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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God's a proud thundercloud we are cartoon cats we're the thing that is biblical under our hats.
can anybody please explain to me what does this verse means?