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,
Bells are ringing
All through the drowned town
In the empty streets
And a hundred miles around
Bells are ringing
Birds are flying upside down
My heart has been lost for too long
Bells are ringing
Ships will be leaving
This was my home
Nothing's moving, nothing is breathing
Bells are ringing
Ringing me from sleep
My sleep was not restful
But my dreaming was deep
Bells are ringing
We both know
There's nothing left to do
But walk out there and go
You could lean your head down
And rest it on my knee
You could tell me a story
That does not end this way
Bells are ringing
We both know
There's nothing left to do
But walk out there and go.
All through the drowned town
In the empty streets
And a hundred miles around
Bells are ringing
Birds are flying upside down
My heart has been lost for too long
Bells are ringing
Ships will be leaving
This was my home
Nothing's moving, nothing is breathing
Bells are ringing
Ringing me from sleep
My sleep was not restful
But my dreaming was deep
Bells are ringing
We both know
There's nothing left to do
But walk out there and go
You could lean your head down
And rest it on my knee
You could tell me a story
That does not end this way
Bells are ringing
We both know
There's nothing left to do
But walk out there and go.
Lyrics submitted by stentorian
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