I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Come along mate,
You gotta cheer up,
I know down on your luck but,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Yeah don’t be down in the dumps,
I know you’re down on your luck but,
You got to listen up.
Coz real lads,
They don’t sink,
They brush it off.
They hold up.
They take it on the chin.
And nice girls,
Won’t leave you out of pocket,
Won’t make you buy their mates all their drinks,
Then leave you there to sock it.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it.
She’s dumped him again.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it again.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
Mister Misfortune
We need to sort you,
(Check!).
And all our friends agree,
That since the age of fourteen,
You’ve played to lose and took the blues,
You need a slap on the cheek,
Coz now it’s gone too far,
You need a swift reminder,
So lick your straightener scars,
And dry your eyeliner.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it.
She’s dumped him again.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it again.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
Mister Misfortune,
Mister Misfortune.
We need to sort you,
Mister Misfortune.
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
I know you’re down on your luck but.
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
I know you’re down on your luck but,
You got to listen up.
You got to listen up.
He’s only gone and done it again.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
OH OH OH OH!
And OH OH OH OH!
You go to listen up.
You gotta cheer up,
I know down on your luck but,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Yeah don’t be down in the dumps,
I know you’re down on your luck but,
You got to listen up.
Coz real lads,
They don’t sink,
They brush it off.
They hold up.
They take it on the chin.
And nice girls,
Won’t leave you out of pocket,
Won’t make you buy their mates all their drinks,
Then leave you there to sock it.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it.
She’s dumped him again.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it again.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
Mister Misfortune
We need to sort you,
(Check!).
And all our friends agree,
That since the age of fourteen,
You’ve played to lose and took the blues,
You need a slap on the cheek,
Coz now it’s gone too far,
You need a swift reminder,
So lick your straightener scars,
And dry your eyeliner.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it.
She’s dumped him again.
And OH OH OH OH!
He’s only gone and done it again.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
Mister Misfortune,
Mister Misfortune.
We need to sort you,
Mister Misfortune.
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
I know you’re down on your luck but.
Don’t be down in the dumps,
Don’t be down in the dumps,
I know you’re down on your luck but,
You got to listen up.
You got to listen up.
He’s only gone and done it again.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
So tell it to me straight now,
Are you one of those guys,
Who always need the hassle and the stress in their lives?
And switches on and off from girlie to girl,
Misfortune always turning your world.
OH OH OH OH!
And OH OH OH OH!
You go to listen up.
Lyrics submitted by musikaddict
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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,
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