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,
You've got that kiss of death
And I'm not attracted to alcoholic veins
The way you love your cigarette more than me is driving insane
I hate my eyes for loving you
You're not worth love, so lust is what I'll blame
I am dark and I am scary 'til you think of me at night
The way I make it even colder and send shivers down your spine
The truth is never easy there
It's time, no lies, make up your mind
I've got my lion's den
It's there to put you in
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
Your heart is nothing
Are you ready to give in?
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
You know I can't love you but I'm dying just to keep you alive
Ha!
Your single mind sees truth and happiness with wedding rings of gold
But double vision sees unhappiness while you're alone and getting old
I can't swing your heart from loving something I can't even see
I can live with only oxygen, but oxygen can't live with me
I've got my lion's den
It's there to put you in
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
Your heart is nothing
Are you ready to give in?
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
You know I can't love you but I'm dying just to keep you alive
Oh, now you're desperate
Don't get too desperate to get it wrong
We're so far along
I know you can't handle, my hands can handle it for very long if we're right or wrong
Oh no
I've got my lion's den
It's there to put you in
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
Your heart is nothing
Are you ready to give in?
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
And I'm not attracted to alcoholic veins
The way you love your cigarette more than me is driving insane
I hate my eyes for loving you
You're not worth love, so lust is what I'll blame
I am dark and I am scary 'til you think of me at night
The way I make it even colder and send shivers down your spine
The truth is never easy there
It's time, no lies, make up your mind
I've got my lion's den
It's there to put you in
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
Your heart is nothing
Are you ready to give in?
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
You know I can't love you but I'm dying just to keep you alive
Ha!
Your single mind sees truth and happiness with wedding rings of gold
But double vision sees unhappiness while you're alone and getting old
I can't swing your heart from loving something I can't even see
I can live with only oxygen, but oxygen can't live with me
I've got my lion's den
It's there to put you in
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
Your heart is nothing
Are you ready to give in?
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
You know I can't love you but I'm dying just to keep you alive
Oh, now you're desperate
Don't get too desperate to get it wrong
We're so far along
I know you can't handle, my hands can handle it for very long if we're right or wrong
Oh no
I've got my lion's den
It's there to put you in
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
Your heart is nothing
Are you ready to give in?
Don't say that you're sick, that you're sick of it
If you can get away, get away with it
Lyrics submitted by chyeadiane
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I haven't heard this song before, but I absolutely love Brighten, and these lyrics are absolutely beautiful.