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 can’t bargain with the Truth
Whether you’re right or you’re wrong
We’re gonna know what you’ve done
We’re gonna see where you belong in The End
You can’t bargain with the truth
Whether you’re black or you’re white
We’re gonna know who’s right
We’re gonna see you in the light in The End
Oh and every little thing you do
You better know it’s coming back to you
You can’t bargain with the Truth
Whether you’re right or you’re wrong
We’re gonna know what you’ve done
We’re gonna see where you belong in The End
You can’t bargain with the truth
’cos whether you’re old our you’re young
We’re gonna know what you’ve done
There will be nowhere else to run in The End
And if you want to help your fellow man
You better start with what is in your hand
You can’t bargain with the Truth
’cos if the world you chose
No further than your nose
Will be where the doors will close in The End
You can’t bargain with the truth
’cos one day you’re gonna die
And Good’s going high
And Evil’s going down in The End.
Whether you’re right or you’re wrong
We’re gonna know what you’ve done
We’re gonna see where you belong in The End
You can’t bargain with the truth
Whether you’re black or you’re white
We’re gonna know who’s right
We’re gonna see you in the light in The End
Oh and every little thing you do
You better know it’s coming back to you
You can’t bargain with the Truth
Whether you’re right or you’re wrong
We’re gonna know what you’ve done
We’re gonna see where you belong in The End
You can’t bargain with the truth
’cos whether you’re old our you’re young
We’re gonna know what you’ve done
There will be nowhere else to run in The End
And if you want to help your fellow man
You better start with what is in your hand
You can’t bargain with the Truth
’cos if the world you chose
No further than your nose
Will be where the doors will close in The End
You can’t bargain with the truth
’cos one day you’re gonna die
And Good’s going high
And Evil’s going down in The End.
Lyrics submitted by pallando14
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.