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 just stayed there
And I was born at the scene of a crime
Every witness, well he was deaf and dumb
And blind
Every highlight leads the high life, yeah
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Every moment was a moment, ah
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Well, how'd I get here?
You know I followed the billboard sign
Every product, well it follows me down the line
Every daydream, every dead one, too
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Every wish that you could wish for came true
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Every daydream, every dead one, too
Every wish that you could wish for came true
Oh, wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
Oh, wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
Oh, wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
Hey, c'mon, man, everybody wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only a part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
And I was born at the scene of a crime
Every witness, well he was deaf and dumb
And blind
Every highlight leads the high life, yeah
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Every moment was a moment, ah
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Well, how'd I get here?
You know I followed the billboard sign
Every product, well it follows me down the line
Every daydream, every dead one, too
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Every wish that you could wish for came true
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Doo-we oo-wee a baba
Every daydream, every dead one, too
Every wish that you could wish for came true
Oh, wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
Oh, wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
Oh, wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
Hey, c'mon, man, everybody wake up
Wake up, wake up
We are only a part of a dream
All the things in your heart
Like the things in your head
Are only what they seem
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I'm really pulling for this band, I love their sound, etc, but they REALLY need to not do things like "Doo-we oo-wee a baba" or else they will never get beyond comments like "yeah, they're pretty good, they sound just like the Beatles." And that is not a compliment these days, the world doesn't need any more would-Be-atles.
That being said, I love this song, and espeically the drunken ending.
"We are only a part of a dream" Nice. (once again, very Beatles-esque, but still, a good line)
Dr.Dog has an amazing sound.
regardless. Nothing needs changing.
Nah man, take away the "Doo-we oo-wee a baba" and you lose all the essence of what makes Dr. Dog who they are. I never heard the beatles sing Doo-we oo-wee a baba anyways? I don't really see what you your trying to say.
Im seeing Dr. Dog this weekend there sound is great and should stay as it is. Yes it is similar to the beatles because of great vocal harmony and the style but they are very original.
oh! artslut, is that a pun!? would-BE-atles! agghhhh! punnn! you clever thing you.
by the way, the ending = best part, right? i mean, geez, it's so creepy.
hahaha what
artslut you sound like a complete ass. They have a completly fresh and original style. You can shove it. Song rocks the ending is sick, ive seen them twice and they never play this song, which is a bummer.
I dont see how the end is creepy really. haha I mean, at the beginning he talks about waking up after he killed a man, at least thats what i get from it.
Anyways, I digress, almost instantly as you all have. You all failed to mention the fact that Dr. Dog is the exact opposite of The Beatles, and since we are on a lyric concept forum, and not particularly focused on the music aspect, I DIGRESS they have no real meaning or moral in their songs. Yet, they do sound a lot like the beatles otherwise. I'm not saying that the Beatles were serious in every single song, look at the white album.
A majority of Dr. Dog songs are poetic abortions. I mean, really, its like a fella is just stoned rambling into a microphone. But it's damn catchy and I love it. Its original, and they throw in some good phrases. I think they are kind of going for an anti-folk way of lyrics, but a 60's psychedelic sound.
...how is that different from the beatles