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,
Have you seen the living
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
Am I the one you're after?
The novice made to find
Stray abhoration stalking
Plans that forgot me ninety-nine times
The only thing to alter
Stands in the way of you
I want your cramps to fit the fillings of my teeth
Have you seen the living
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
And don't you try and ask me
Your expiration date
The plans that forgot me ninety-nine times
You'll be the one who opens the gate
Carry water in a basket
Where the hole was dug the first time
The head that carries the body
(A blood that flows through veins)
Have you seen the living
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
And when it calls I'll answer
Do you need to repent?
The plans that forgot me ninety-nine times
I'll stick around for ninety-nine times
The fault lines you prepare have darkened
Blank rings instead of sight
Goliath, are you receiving?
Dismembered, you've arrived
Have you seen the living
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
Am I the one you're after?
The novice made to find
Stray abhoration stalking
Plans that forgot me ninety-nine times
The only thing to alter
Stands in the way of you
I want your cramps to fit the fillings of my teeth
Have you seen the living
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
And don't you try and ask me
Your expiration date
The plans that forgot me ninety-nine times
You'll be the one who opens the gate
Carry water in a basket
Where the hole was dug the first time
The head that carries the body
(A blood that flows through veins)
Have you seen the living
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
And when it calls I'll answer
Do you need to repent?
The plans that forgot me ninety-nine times
I'll stick around for ninety-nine times
The fault lines you prepare have darkened
Blank rings instead of sight
Goliath, are you receiving?
Dismembered, you've arrived
Have you seen the living
Tired of their own shells?
All the non-believers
Torso in the well
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.
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/
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I only wish that other bands would at least try to be as good as TMV then i would be able to listen to other stuff sometimes.
As long as there is The Mars Volta - and yes, there is, don't get mislead - there is no need for something that comes close to it. You might want to expand your musical styles and find artists which are of similar brilliance there. ;)
I think the lyrics are spot on. Great song and I'm looking forward to the new album.
i loved what mikeyhelikesit said !
The lyrics look straight on to me man, except one line. "Plans of a god made 99 times" sounds more like, "Plans have forgot me 99 times." Anyone else hear that?
Either way, AMAZING song. Can't wait for the new album. This is definitely gonna be one of my favorite songs.
And yea, I feel the same way, mikey :P The problem with most bands today is that they have no variation in their playing. They're totally predictable. 4/4 time (sometimes 3/4 and the OCCASIONAL 6/8), straight, simple drum beat, lyrics that a monkey could come up with...but TMV basically kicks the shit out of all of that. The crazy meters and the lyrics are enough to keep me with 'em forever.
holy hell, nice job deciphering, looks good to me.
i also wonder that everyday, mikey.
"goliath, are you receiving?" -best part.
Here are the real lyrics from the lyric book.
Have you seen the living tired of their own shells all the nonbelievers torso in the well
am i the one you're after the novice made to find stray abhorations stalking plans that forgot me 99 times the only thing to alter stands in the way of you i want your cramps to fit the fillings of my teeth
have you seen the living tired of their own shells all the nonbelievers torso in the well
and don't you try and ask me your expiration date the plans that forgot me 99 times you'll be the one who opens the gate carry water in a basket where the whole was dug the first time the head that carries the body a blood that flows through veins have you seen the living tired of their own shells all the nonbelievers torso in the well
when it calls i'll answer do you need to repent the plans that forgot me 99 times i'll stick around for 99 times the fault lines you prepare have darkened blank rings instead of sight goliath are you receiving dismembered you've arrived
Well..... I tried my best with just ear shot. Like all TMV songs, the lyrics are cryptic and hard to decipher. One question. How do you have the lyric book already?
the album is supposed to be about a ouja board that i think omar bought for cedrics birthday. (it might be the other way around)
anyway, they started playing it after shows, and eventually all these bad things happened to them. so cedric took it and buried it somewhere. he didnt tell anyone where it is, the album is the fictional story they made up based on the real events.
the lyrics are where the album art usually is.
how is this fictional? it seems like the actual is just being retold vaguely and elaborately..like when he says "all the non believer torso in the wells" i believe that means if you still cant believe certain things then your crippling and isolating yourself from what is really going on.
omar buried it, actually c: cedric asked that he not be told where it was buried, and i think supposedly the album is a story they heard through playing the 'soothsayer' board, who knows if its truuuu or not. glorious album though eek