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 spilled the ink across the page
Trying to spell your name
So I fold it up and I flick it out
Paper aeroplane
It won't fly the seven seas to you
'Cause it didn't leave my room
But it awaits the hands of someone else
The garbage man
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
So he opens it up and reads it out
To all his friends
Amongst the crowd a heart will break
And a heart will mend
Walks on home tired from work
The letter falls from his hand
He reaches out only to catch the sky
It's gone with the wind
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Go
Said I spilled the ink across the land
Trying to spell your name
Up and down there it goes
Paper aeroplane
It hasn't flown the seven seas to you
But it's on its way
It goes through the hands
Then to someone else
To find you girl
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh
Trying to spell your name
So I fold it up and I flick it out
Paper aeroplane
It won't fly the seven seas to you
'Cause it didn't leave my room
But it awaits the hands of someone else
The garbage man
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
So he opens it up and reads it out
To all his friends
Amongst the crowd a heart will break
And a heart will mend
Walks on home tired from work
The letter falls from his hand
He reaches out only to catch the sky
It's gone with the wind
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Go
Said I spilled the ink across the land
Trying to spell your name
Up and down there it goes
Paper aeroplane
It hasn't flown the seven seas to you
But it's on its way
It goes through the hands
Then to someone else
To find you girl
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh
Lyrics submitted by acousticxxbaby
Paper Aeroplane Lyrics as written by Julia Stone Angus Stone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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If Angus did say what ~gracie~ said, then this song definetly makes sense. But the ending confuses me. Maybe he eventually did write this girl a letter, but It didn't get to her?