The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Let's pretend that we'll be here tomorrow
And I'll try for you to be a little more on time
I know you need to say you know you've let me down
But you haven't, and it's hard to talk with people all around
Please don't say how proud you are
Let's do the things we normally do
Well I'll say see you later
You'll sing a line or two
From your rebel songs sung out of tune
Don't hold my hand for longer than you need to
Lets forget that we're here and make some plans
We'll go for walks
Sit together on the bench we always sat
I'll tell you every little detail of my day and so will you
But don't try to stay awake
I'm feeling tired too
This is just another day
Let's do the things we normally do
Well I'll say see you later you'll sing a line or two
From your rebel songs sung out of tune
Don't hold my hand for longer than you need to
Armored cars and tanks and guns, came to take away our sons
And everybody stood behind
The man behind the wire
There's a fight to love
A fight to have
Your bed's a battlefield and back
And all of this will just be stripped away
Let's do the things we normally do
I'll say see you later you'll sing a line or two
From your rebel songs sung out of tune
Don't hold my hand for longer than you need to
Don't look me in the eye more than you need to
Don't try to say goodbye if I don't want to
Don't say how proud you are
And say I'm far away
And take along
And say a word
And I can say I fade away
And I'll try for you to be a little more on time
I know you need to say you know you've let me down
But you haven't, and it's hard to talk with people all around
Please don't say how proud you are
Let's do the things we normally do
Well I'll say see you later
You'll sing a line or two
From your rebel songs sung out of tune
Don't hold my hand for longer than you need to
Lets forget that we're here and make some plans
We'll go for walks
Sit together on the bench we always sat
I'll tell you every little detail of my day and so will you
But don't try to stay awake
I'm feeling tired too
This is just another day
Let's do the things we normally do
Well I'll say see you later you'll sing a line or two
From your rebel songs sung out of tune
Don't hold my hand for longer than you need to
Armored cars and tanks and guns, came to take away our sons
And everybody stood behind
The man behind the wire
There's a fight to love
A fight to have
Your bed's a battlefield and back
And all of this will just be stripped away
Let's do the things we normally do
I'll say see you later you'll sing a line or two
From your rebel songs sung out of tune
Don't hold my hand for longer than you need to
Don't look me in the eye more than you need to
Don't try to say goodbye if I don't want to
Don't say how proud you are
And say I'm far away
And take along
And say a word
And I can say I fade away
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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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