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,
We live in a glamorous mansion
with naplam in the walls.
Waterfalls fall like intestines from
flying gutted gulls.
We live in a glamorous mansion
with fast ghosts in the walls.
My bedroom window looks out on
crucified orange groves.
Frail fingers in our five-course food.
Biblical rains when the midnight
maids strip nude.
When the fire's chewing up your
walls where you gonna go?
Nooses hung from the stars tell me
yes or no.
Nausea shreds your head.
Would you rather be homeless or
dead?
When your floor's foaming at the
mouth where you gonna run?
French windows passing out
drinking all night long?
Nausea shreds your head.
Would you rather be homeless or
dead?
Will you look back?
Will you hesitate to leave all your
posessions behind?
Will you look back?
Or are you going to sink with the
ship and say everything's alright?
Are you gonna jump, jump, jump
out the window or burn, burn, burn
with the furniture?
with naplam in the walls.
Waterfalls fall like intestines from
flying gutted gulls.
We live in a glamorous mansion
with fast ghosts in the walls.
My bedroom window looks out on
crucified orange groves.
Frail fingers in our five-course food.
Biblical rains when the midnight
maids strip nude.
When the fire's chewing up your
walls where you gonna go?
Nooses hung from the stars tell me
yes or no.
Nausea shreds your head.
Would you rather be homeless or
dead?
When your floor's foaming at the
mouth where you gonna run?
French windows passing out
drinking all night long?
Nausea shreds your head.
Would you rather be homeless or
dead?
Will you look back?
Will you hesitate to leave all your
posessions behind?
Will you look back?
Or are you going to sink with the
ship and say everything's alright?
Are you gonna jump, jump, jump
out the window or burn, burn, burn
with the furniture?
Lyrics submitted by JRCJYC
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On an elementary level that's a fine observation. It's more about today's society and our obessions with material possessions. Because there are people in this world that would rather burn with all of their stuff then to live with nothing.