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,
The masses said
By popular demand
Cheer me on now closer to the edge
I didn't think I could follow through
But I did out of convenience
Well I'm looking at the bigger picture
And I figure this one's insignificant enough right?
Compromised. Getting used to it
Compromises. We're used to it
Compromises we're so good at making
Lets do it again
The sharks came out to play
Told us how much to pay
It may not be so grand
But we can't have it all
The masses said
By popular demand
Cheer me on now closer to the edge
Unmotivated. Not willing enough to resist
We'd rather keep it simple, fast, convenient
Compromised. Getting used to it
Compromises. We're used to it
Compromises we're so good at making
Lets do it again
But we can't have it all
By popular demand
Cheer me on now closer to the edge
I didn't think I could follow through
But I did out of convenience
Well I'm looking at the bigger picture
And I figure this one's insignificant enough right?
Compromised. Getting used to it
Compromises. We're used to it
Compromises we're so good at making
Lets do it again
The sharks came out to play
Told us how much to pay
It may not be so grand
But we can't have it all
The masses said
By popular demand
Cheer me on now closer to the edge
Unmotivated. Not willing enough to resist
We'd rather keep it simple, fast, convenient
Compromised. Getting used to it
Compromises. We're used to it
Compromises we're so good at making
Lets do it again
But we can't have it all
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Could it be about straight edge? keeping the edge and knowing that were best without drugs and alcohol (but we can't have it all) and the compromises are what they do instead of those things, and they want to show again how they are different and dont drink etc.
Andrew didn't think he'd follow through with the straight edge lifestyle, but it was more conveninet
thats how i see it