In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Long ago when I whirled away
Held a promise of a brand new day
I crossed my fingers for a love to keep
Tornadoes swept me off my feet
Sleeping dogs dream of chasing a ball
Lack of lissome(?) from a tree that falls
I throw down with a raven in the sky
In a graveyard I feel so alive
It’s so cold here, in my bed without my love
I cover my emotions, I’m half dead
And the hours laid as the memories still haunts me, and it’s tearing me apart
There are fireworks exploding in my heart
Love is always just within my grasp, like a ufo its come so fast
Was it real or just in my mind?
I ask the psychic on the telephone line
Fast cars dream of winning the race
Like a cloud that gets stuck in one place
I’m drifting with the autumn leaves
In a parks where I pray for peace
It’s so cold here, in my bed without my love
I cover my emotions, I’m half dead
And the hours laid as the memories still haunts me, and it’s tearing me apart
There are fireworks exploding in my heart
Every now and then I catch a glimpse
of what its like to have some common sense
Black(?) dreams never seem to come true
They are just a pretty song playing out of tune
Flying fish dream of reaching the sky
Water all around them makes them cry
I was never the kind to kiss and tell
Love’s perfect mix of heaven and hell
It’s so cold here, in my bed without my love
I cover my emotions, I’m half dead
And the hours laid as the memories still haunts me, and it’s tearing me apart
There are fireworks exploding in my heart
Held a promise of a brand new day
I crossed my fingers for a love to keep
Tornadoes swept me off my feet
Sleeping dogs dream of chasing a ball
Lack of lissome(?) from a tree that falls
I throw down with a raven in the sky
In a graveyard I feel so alive
It’s so cold here, in my bed without my love
I cover my emotions, I’m half dead
And the hours laid as the memories still haunts me, and it’s tearing me apart
There are fireworks exploding in my heart
Love is always just within my grasp, like a ufo its come so fast
Was it real or just in my mind?
I ask the psychic on the telephone line
Fast cars dream of winning the race
Like a cloud that gets stuck in one place
I’m drifting with the autumn leaves
In a parks where I pray for peace
It’s so cold here, in my bed without my love
I cover my emotions, I’m half dead
And the hours laid as the memories still haunts me, and it’s tearing me apart
There are fireworks exploding in my heart
Every now and then I catch a glimpse
of what its like to have some common sense
Black(?) dreams never seem to come true
They are just a pretty song playing out of tune
Flying fish dream of reaching the sky
Water all around them makes them cry
I was never the kind to kiss and tell
Love’s perfect mix of heaven and hell
It’s so cold here, in my bed without my love
I cover my emotions, I’m half dead
And the hours laid as the memories still haunts me, and it’s tearing me apart
There are fireworks exploding in my heart
Lyrics submitted by secondhandsmoke
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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,
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pretty sure it's 'long ago and a world away'
and 'like a blossom from a tree that falls'
and 'i float down with the raven in the sky'
and 'pipe(?) dreams never seem to come true'? it sounds like pipe. which would make sense. well, to me. pipes=marijuana=high=thinking=dreams.
i dunno though. amazing song (: