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,
"Engine engine number 9 going down Chicago line engine off the Track, do you want your money back?"
We waited all year for this time to come around.
We didn't have much, but what we did have, we held very close.
"Y-e-s spells yes, not because you're dirty, not because you're clean,
Just because you kissed a girl behind a dirty magazine"
I'M IT!
my head against the tree, I start the count 1-2-3....
This is what life's all about......
"Ready or not-" I'm interrupted.
My head against the sidewalk.
Being thrown to the ground is what I've heard they do,
A Laugh in your face and a crack in the head with a bottle of booze.
I became the gangs soccer ball, kicked around for their enjoyment.
Their laughing became deafening,
The memories became scarring.
And all they could do was watch.
The gang,they swung at will.
Pounding my pals for the thrill.
But it was laughs that buried me.
I leaned up against the tree,
Had my pals holding my head,
We all sat there and weeped.
Why am I not hiding, why am I not seeking,
Why am i cut open, the nights filled with shrieking.
Give my hiding spot away, I'm done for today.
Give my a few years,
Then tell em to come back and play.
We waited all year for this time to come around.
We didn't have much, but what we did have, we held very close.
"Y-e-s spells yes, not because you're dirty, not because you're clean,
Just because you kissed a girl behind a dirty magazine"
I'M IT!
my head against the tree, I start the count 1-2-3....
This is what life's all about......
"Ready or not-" I'm interrupted.
My head against the sidewalk.
Being thrown to the ground is what I've heard they do,
A Laugh in your face and a crack in the head with a bottle of booze.
I became the gangs soccer ball, kicked around for their enjoyment.
Their laughing became deafening,
The memories became scarring.
And all they could do was watch.
The gang,they swung at will.
Pounding my pals for the thrill.
But it was laughs that buried me.
I leaned up against the tree,
Had my pals holding my head,
We all sat there and weeped.
Why am I not hiding, why am I not seeking,
Why am i cut open, the nights filled with shrieking.
Give my hiding spot away, I'm done for today.
Give my a few years,
Then tell em to come back and play.
Lyrics submitted by Turk Turkleton
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He and some friends were playing hide and go seek when a gang found them and hurt them pretty bad.
This song details what happened, while the second part, "...If they Holler..." explains his vivid revenge fantasies.
I had an event like this happen to me as a child, i can tell you it's all i can do not to come to tears when i hear these two songs, not only do they describe the situation in such detail as if you are there watching them beat the living piss out of them. Brings back bad memories. But yet, i love these two songs more than any other #12 songs because this one strikes me on such a personal level that it makes me emotional.