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,
Down at the shell shed the boys are pickin' at their pearls.
The hole in my mitten lets the rain get in.
I bought 22 ounces from the petrol park, waiting at the light;
I'm never gonna make it back in time
So Geraldine and me can begin
Before Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers comes creepin' in.
I sit with the fan on my face and sip shandies all day.
I learned to sleep standing up so I don't have to make the bed.
No tobacco for my rolling papers, warm water in my cup--
I'll have to wait all morning
Before Geraldine and me can begin;
Before Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers'll come creepin' in.
Loaded up with turkey carpets and green glass diamonds
I drove back and forth for five long rolling moons.
And everyday and every night I thought of back at home
And I couldn't get the notion out of my head:
That before Geraldine and me could begin
Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers'd come creepin' in.
Everything is always a little late;
Trippin' on those Japanese slippers seems to be my fate.
It was my job to cut down all the poplar trees
And I'd sit on the stumps and listen to the finches.
And look out at the field and eat honey out of the jar
And wonder why it always seemed
Before Geraldine and me can begin
Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers would come creepin' in.
The hole in my mitten lets the rain get in.
I bought 22 ounces from the petrol park, waiting at the light;
I'm never gonna make it back in time
So Geraldine and me can begin
Before Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers comes creepin' in.
I sit with the fan on my face and sip shandies all day.
I learned to sleep standing up so I don't have to make the bed.
No tobacco for my rolling papers, warm water in my cup--
I'll have to wait all morning
Before Geraldine and me can begin;
Before Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers'll come creepin' in.
Loaded up with turkey carpets and green glass diamonds
I drove back and forth for five long rolling moons.
And everyday and every night I thought of back at home
And I couldn't get the notion out of my head:
That before Geraldine and me could begin
Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers'd come creepin' in.
Everything is always a little late;
Trippin' on those Japanese slippers seems to be my fate.
It was my job to cut down all the poplar trees
And I'd sit on the stumps and listen to the finches.
And look out at the field and eat honey out of the jar
And wonder why it always seemed
Before Geraldine and me can begin
Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers would come creepin' in.
Lyrics submitted by butwithyourmind
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More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
The lyrics according to the liner notes in the album are slightly different from what you have:
Down at the shell shed the boys are pickin' at their pearls. The hole in my mitten lets the rain get in. I bought 22 ounces from the petrol park, waiting at the light; I'm never gonna make it back in time
So Geraldine and me can begin Before Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers comes creepin' in.
I sit with the fan on my face and sip shandies all day. I learned to sleep standing up so I don't have to make the bed. No tobacco for my rolling papers, warm water in my cup-- I'll have to wait all morning
Before Geraldine and me can begin; Before Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers'll come creepin' in.
Loaded up with turkey carpets and green glass diamonds I drove back and forth for five long rolling moons. And everyday and every night I thought of back at home And I couldn't get the notion out of my head:
That before Geraldine and me could begin Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers'd come creepin' in.
Everything is always a little late; Trippin' on those Japanese slippers seems to be my fate.
It was my job to cut down all the poplar trees And I'd sit on the stumps and listen to the finches. And look out at the field and eat honey out of the jar And wonder why it always seemed
Before Geraldine and me can begin Mister Raymond and his Japanese slippers would come creepin' in.