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,
If you want my love help me heal the pain in my eyes
Ooh it's kinda crazy
I've been thinking maybe gotta get you out of my mind
First you say you want me now your memories haunt me
Why don't you just give me a sign
I thought I had someone that
I could fall in love with
Someone who would treat me right
So I tried to be so kind
I thought for sure I'd make you mine but something's
Weighing up on my mind
Why don't you take my hand, and help me understand
'Cause I can't figure out
What you're thinking and why don't you let me know
Don't want to be alone going out of my mind
Waiting for the day you'll say you'll be mine
If you want my love
(Why don't you show me then)
Help me heal the pain in my eyes
(I know you want me now)
If you want my love, why don't you tell me
'Cause I've had enough of plastic people wasting my time
Chorus
Thought I had someone that I could really care for
Someone who won't waste my time
(lead me on)
But now I find that you lie
You're always out with other guys
Is that your way of playing with my mind
Why don't you take my hand, help me understand
'Cause I can't figure out
What you're thinking about
Why don't you let me know
Don't want to be alone going out of my mind
Waiting for the day you'll say you'll be mine
If you want my love
(why don't you show me then)
Help me heal the pain in my eyes
(I know you want me now)
If you want my love why don't you tell me
'Cause I've had enough of plastic people wasting my time
Chorus
Showed you all that I am
And treated you well
Gave you half of my heart but you tore it to hell
Give me someone who won't lie and won't cheat on me
Baby up in my room,
That's exactly what you asked of me
Baby if you want my love, if you want my love
Oh, yeah then why don't you just
Take my hand and help me understand
Going out of my mind
Waiting for the day you'll say you'll be mine
Baby if you want my love, if you want my love
I've had enough, I've had enough
Ohh, it's kinda crazy (I've had enough)
Gotta get you out of my mind
(I've had enough)
First you say you want me (I've had enough)
Why don't you just give me a sign
Ooh it's kinda crazy
I've been thinking maybe gotta get you out of my mind
First you say you want me now your memories haunt me
Why don't you just give me a sign
I thought I had someone that
I could fall in love with
Someone who would treat me right
So I tried to be so kind
I thought for sure I'd make you mine but something's
Weighing up on my mind
Why don't you take my hand, and help me understand
'Cause I can't figure out
What you're thinking and why don't you let me know
Don't want to be alone going out of my mind
Waiting for the day you'll say you'll be mine
If you want my love
(Why don't you show me then)
Help me heal the pain in my eyes
(I know you want me now)
If you want my love, why don't you tell me
'Cause I've had enough of plastic people wasting my time
Chorus
Thought I had someone that I could really care for
Someone who won't waste my time
(lead me on)
But now I find that you lie
You're always out with other guys
Is that your way of playing with my mind
Why don't you take my hand, help me understand
'Cause I can't figure out
What you're thinking about
Why don't you let me know
Don't want to be alone going out of my mind
Waiting for the day you'll say you'll be mine
If you want my love
(why don't you show me then)
Help me heal the pain in my eyes
(I know you want me now)
If you want my love why don't you tell me
'Cause I've had enough of plastic people wasting my time
Chorus
Showed you all that I am
And treated you well
Gave you half of my heart but you tore it to hell
Give me someone who won't lie and won't cheat on me
Baby up in my room,
That's exactly what you asked of me
Baby if you want my love, if you want my love
Oh, yeah then why don't you just
Take my hand and help me understand
Going out of my mind
Waiting for the day you'll say you'll be mine
Baby if you want my love, if you want my love
I've had enough, I've had enough
Ohh, it's kinda crazy (I've had enough)
Gotta get you out of my mind
(I've had enough)
First you say you want me (I've had enough)
Why don't you just give me a sign
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I can't believe no one has commented on this song. I was a high schooler when this song came out, and I loved it. When I heard it for the first time, the breathy vocals made me think it had to be an '80's song. Even though it's not, I still like it even today. The meaning is fairly self-explanatory. The only thing that confuses me is that one of the lead singers sounds like a woman, but I thought SD was made up of two men. Weird.