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,
I can't live on a solitary stem
When there's open land and warm wind
There's always more and more to multiply
love love love you, but desire confines
Don't hide in yer heart, on your side, in yer mind
don't sigh sigh and defy what would stay, what should thrive
We're together scattered, and then together high
Together flowered, grown unknown and wild
Give me a flower without a name
Give me an unknown, too tall untamed
I'll give you the tree that I finally found
Roots, roots in the air, branches in the ground
Don't hide in yer heart, on your side, in yer mind
don't sigh sigh and defy what would stay, what should thrive
We're together scattered, and then together high
Together flowered, grown unknown and wild
I need you wild
(Is this what we're living for, to be known and a little more?)
When there's open land and warm wind
There's always more and more to multiply
love love love you, but desire confines
Don't hide in yer heart, on your side, in yer mind
don't sigh sigh and defy what would stay, what should thrive
We're together scattered, and then together high
Together flowered, grown unknown and wild
Give me a flower without a name
Give me an unknown, too tall untamed
I'll give you the tree that I finally found
Roots, roots in the air, branches in the ground
Don't hide in yer heart, on your side, in yer mind
don't sigh sigh and defy what would stay, what should thrive
We're together scattered, and then together high
Together flowered, grown unknown and wild
I need you wild
(Is this what we're living for, to be known and a little more?)
Lyrics submitted by avataraera, edited by jeroenvg
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
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Courtesy of an interview with Christopher Weingarten of NY's "The Village Voice" & posted to their blog (9/9/10), Lia Ices was asked: What is "Grown Unknown" about?
"Grown Unknown" is about resisting the tendency to control and confine our desires. I'm playing around with the juxtaposition between what our minds have constructed about how to love someone, and all that remains beyond those concepts, unexplored. "Grown Unknown" is about letting ourselves, with the one we love, evolve with a spirit of abandon and to celebrate this move toward growing wildly together. And by "wildly" I mean, naturally, untamed, free."
Gorgeous.