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,
Fifteen years old picking out the same old clothes
While these posters are wallpaper for those with the same goal
She'll try out on on the day after today
And she dreams of the 5k
The calendar's set stone
Now cracked in half
Dwyer said you look talented to me
Join the team and get up at five with babes in briefs
Candy bars, metals, trophies and stressful days
Still she dreams, dreams of 5k
Dwyer asked, "why did you give up on me?"
"I've got these dreams and no idea what I want to be"
Different place fast turn over has gone away
But still she dreams of 5k
The calendar was set in stone
Now cracked in half but not unknown
Records broke yesterday
If only there was still a 5k
While these posters are wallpaper for those with the same goal
She'll try out on on the day after today
And she dreams of the 5k
The calendar's set stone
Now cracked in half
Dwyer said you look talented to me
Join the team and get up at five with babes in briefs
Candy bars, metals, trophies and stressful days
Still she dreams, dreams of 5k
Dwyer asked, "why did you give up on me?"
"I've got these dreams and no idea what I want to be"
Different place fast turn over has gone away
But still she dreams of 5k
The calendar was set in stone
Now cracked in half but not unknown
Records broke yesterday
If only there was still a 5k
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i think it is about kim but matt also incorporates life in general in it.
*how we all have dreams but life and society keeps us from achieving them. how the calendar set in stone can be cracked.
what is the 5k?
i don't know to much about this band 'cause i barely started listening to them a couple of days ago, but i wonder who matt is talking about...
x
A 5k is a kind of race (on foot). It seems that Matt is singing about a girl whose dream is to run in the 5k. I'm assuming "Dwyer" is a running coach of sorts and thinks she would be good in a different race.
Even though the girl is talented with a different race she still "dreams of 5k." The third verse is telling about everything she now goes with under her new coach.
Verse four is about how she leaves and goes back to training for a 5k, ultimately letting Dwyer down since he wont be coaching a winning athlete.
Thats really all I've got on this song, I think its a pretty solid meaning.
I was at one of their shows a couple months ago (I actually forget how long ago it was, but whatever), and Matt seemed to allude that it's about Kim and that she used to be like a track star back in the day. I am not sure if he was joking or not.
yeah he said the same thing when i saw them, he even made her stand on her stool while telling the crowd to marvel at her "fine booty" she got from doing track!
Im pretty sure this is about Kim.
heres an excerpt from an interview with her: "In high school I focused on track. My plans back then were to run throughout college and then compete in the Olympics. Yeah… didn't work out as planned. I made it through one year at Penn State and realized I had other things in mind. I do miss running though."
So the whole running thing does fit.
But who really knows except Matt and Kim
Well, I don't really listen to Matt and Kim but I actually have the "Dwyer" that they refer to as my coach for girls cross country and track... it was actually Dwyer who introduced me to the band because he mentioned that he had a song written about him...
I thought he was lying! What an awesome song (:
it's "stickers, bars, metals.." not candy=) but the song is so cute and happy and fun and energetic and awesome and just love all of it.
its also Medals, not metals.
Actually, I think on the EP version it's "Snickers bars" and on the full length version it's "candy bars." Probably some sort of brand-name problem.
When I saw them live, Matt said it was about one of Kim's exes.