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,
People doing better, people needing more
People writing letters, people get ignored
People saving money and people saving face
People going hungry, people waste away
Needing one reason to live in a world
Where nothing is worthwhile 'til it's gone
You spend your life moving on
Well, people wearing nothing, people wearing out
And people scared of something, and people live in doubt
Now people going places and people running home
And those who know what grace is, people disowned
Needing one reason to live in a world
Where nothing is worthwhile 'til it's gone
You spend your life moving on
Give me one reason to care anymore
'Cause there has got to be a better way
A road that leads to better days
In the back of minds and corners of our eyes
It'll lie the reason we're alive
And I will love you back
I'll love you back
One reason to live in a world
Where nothing is worthwhile 'til it's gone
You spend your life moving on
Give me one reason to care anymore
'Cause there has got to be a better way
A road that leads to better days
People writing letters, people get ignored
People saving money and people saving face
People going hungry, people waste away
Needing one reason to live in a world
Where nothing is worthwhile 'til it's gone
You spend your life moving on
Well, people wearing nothing, people wearing out
And people scared of something, and people live in doubt
Now people going places and people running home
And those who know what grace is, people disowned
Needing one reason to live in a world
Where nothing is worthwhile 'til it's gone
You spend your life moving on
Give me one reason to care anymore
'Cause there has got to be a better way
A road that leads to better days
In the back of minds and corners of our eyes
It'll lie the reason we're alive
And I will love you back
I'll love you back
One reason to live in a world
Where nothing is worthwhile 'til it's gone
You spend your life moving on
Give me one reason to care anymore
'Cause there has got to be a better way
A road that leads to better days
Lyrics submitted by SMUSER17165096
People Lyrics as written by Jonathan Michael Mclaughlin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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im rubbish at finding song meanings, but just wanted to say this song is amazing.
i can never tell, is it "i will love you BAD" or is it "i will love you BACK?"
I think this song is about like... people in general. How some people are one thing while others are opposite, how we don't take things for granted. "People wearing nothing, people wear it all" as in we don't take things for granted.
Jon Mclaughlin is a christian. Although this song is not necessarily a "worship" song, alot of parts of this song talk have biblical/christian references .. 1) he talks about the hope for a better place (heaven).... "cause there has got to be a better way a road that leads to better days" 2) He talks about how this world has nothing to offer... "give me the one reason to live in a world where nothing is worth while" 3) he talks about people who believe in christianity and believe that jesus (by dying on the cross) offers grace to anyone who accepts it... "and those that know what grace is, People disown"
hope this helps : )
i can post bible verses that go along w/ those parts of the song, if anyone would like!