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,
And you know that we'll get by
Another wine on a Saturday night
Another holiday planned despite outside
We've watched the sun set from the couch
And we've walked the beach when we needed out
And this life we love is when we live this life
I watched the sand back through the waves
And I watched the goalie make the saves
And when I watched you I knew of beauty and dust
Then we watched the movie about the disease
And we wished for the end of humanity please
And we threw the bellends and friends under the bus
And now we're drifting through the house
Hearing roofs breath and the air pushing out
And waiting for nothing where's that starters gun
Watching the signs and spinning the times
Lifting ourselves up and falling behind
But they'll never say that we weren't on a run
See Mr Bill he walks past each day
And the days that he lost he was pissing away
But he soldiers on up the street relentlessly
A scarf and a limp and a penchant for a song
He's heading for the park and he's not gone long
But we've slipped out the side down the back elegantly
So take both your hands, and grab the bands
A tour of the old town drink in hand
Flex the plastic and the bags, will sag today
Take the effortless win, then take the train
And find the piece that fits…swap those lanes
Let's go for a while as we while each day away
We've got enough to last 'til the end of days
And we've started to train for the golden rays
But we'd give it all away … for a business seat
And duty-free drinks and the aiport link
Anonymous but enthralling, react - don't think
Landing each day on the balls…of our feet
Another wine on a Saturday night
Another holiday planned despite outside
We've watched the sun set from the couch
And we've walked the beach when we needed out
And this life we love is when we live this life
I watched the sand back through the waves
And I watched the goalie make the saves
And when I watched you I knew of beauty and dust
Then we watched the movie about the disease
And we wished for the end of humanity please
And we threw the bellends and friends under the bus
And now we're drifting through the house
Hearing roofs breath and the air pushing out
And waiting for nothing where's that starters gun
Watching the signs and spinning the times
Lifting ourselves up and falling behind
But they'll never say that we weren't on a run
See Mr Bill he walks past each day
And the days that he lost he was pissing away
But he soldiers on up the street relentlessly
A scarf and a limp and a penchant for a song
He's heading for the park and he's not gone long
But we've slipped out the side down the back elegantly
So take both your hands, and grab the bands
A tour of the old town drink in hand
Flex the plastic and the bags, will sag today
Take the effortless win, then take the train
And find the piece that fits…swap those lanes
Let's go for a while as we while each day away
We've got enough to last 'til the end of days
And we've started to train for the golden rays
But we'd give it all away … for a business seat
And duty-free drinks and the aiport link
Anonymous but enthralling, react - don't think
Landing each day on the balls…of our feet
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What a great song. You know why? It's simple :P
The singer knows he'll never be with the girl/guy (well, it never said...)
I like the part that says:
I had another set of words to use instead of what I'm singing here The rhymes were intricate and every line was filled with alliteration and the best poetic tricks It demonstrated just how clearly I'm the perfect guy for you to hear But in reality perfection isn't really what we want so we just throw words at the page And we call it a masterpiece if any part of it sticks
Maybe it refers to how poetry is often forced, lacking true meaning. His simple words of love mean much more.
Regardless... He gets by.
:D
--Thylacine