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,
I can take a road
Takes a little longer
Walk before the house where we had our games
Suffering life, play, making, we discovered fire
People like you made me so much stronger
People like you made me question blame
Huddled in strength like birds on a sloping wire
Hearing your voice makes me so uneasy
Hearing your voice makes me question fame
Money is deaf to the sound of a lover's cry
The language of loss made me so much older
The language of loss made me lose my grip
The language of loss made me silent as a newborn child
'cause everything moves in a shifting cycle
The unison soars and the pressure dips
Making our way steadfast in the skyward mile
And baby I know I will see you someday
Building your house on the very street
You severed your mother's life from your father's land
Finish your home we can join them this way
We talked about peace and a little dream
Marriage and love and divorce we don't understand
And you know I have to sway my leaves and branches slowly
Out in the sun, like the silent shout of youth
And we ask why do we take these leaps and chances
Because we have no choice but to wither into truth
And I dreamed you were there
All the vital signs were standing
When I dreamed you were with me
With the summer at my back
And I dreamed you were there
So complete and undemanding
We know the love that gives
Is what the living always lack
And you know I have to sway my leaves and branches slowly
Out in the sun, like the silent shout of youth
And we ask why do we take these leaps and chances
Because we have no choice but to wither into truth
Takes a little longer
Walk before the house where we had our games
Suffering life, play, making, we discovered fire
People like you made me so much stronger
People like you made me question blame
Huddled in strength like birds on a sloping wire
Hearing your voice makes me so uneasy
Hearing your voice makes me question fame
Money is deaf to the sound of a lover's cry
The language of loss made me so much older
The language of loss made me lose my grip
The language of loss made me silent as a newborn child
'cause everything moves in a shifting cycle
The unison soars and the pressure dips
Making our way steadfast in the skyward mile
And baby I know I will see you someday
Building your house on the very street
You severed your mother's life from your father's land
Finish your home we can join them this way
We talked about peace and a little dream
Marriage and love and divorce we don't understand
And you know I have to sway my leaves and branches slowly
Out in the sun, like the silent shout of youth
And we ask why do we take these leaps and chances
Because we have no choice but to wither into truth
And I dreamed you were there
All the vital signs were standing
When I dreamed you were with me
With the summer at my back
And I dreamed you were there
So complete and undemanding
We know the love that gives
Is what the living always lack
And you know I have to sway my leaves and branches slowly
Out in the sun, like the silent shout of youth
And we ask why do we take these leaps and chances
Because we have no choice but to wither into truth
Lyrics submitted by thebaddoctor
Sway Lyrics as written by Joseph Cang Matteo Saggese
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It seems to be about how their childhood dreams, and plans for their relationship's future, seem so distant now that they are grown up, and have "withered into truth." I think the song also implies that they are growing into their parents, "building your house on the very street/that severed your mother's life from your father's land," "finish your home, we can join them this way...marriage and love and divorce, we don't understand."