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,
Thank you for the big sunrise
And all the shapes that luminate
Hardly get to sleep at night
I'm waiting for the rays
Thank you for the lesson
There's always things to contemplate
I'm finding for the second time
This is for the waves
Riders on the heart
Think I'm going to celebrate
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Lazy motions in the air
Is something I appreciate
I'm going to make a big shape black
And birds are going to shake
When the bridges all come down
Love is going to face a race
Love is going to see some time
Love is going to pray
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to break some legs
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to celebrate
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Thank you silly Jesus
There's always one sycophant
Never going to sleep on time
This is unfair
Thank you for the new sunrise
And all the shapes that luminate
Hardly get to sleep on time
I'm waiting for the rays
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to break some legs
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to celebrate
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to break some legs
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
I'm on the road again
I'm on the road again
And all the shapes that luminate
Hardly get to sleep at night
I'm waiting for the rays
Thank you for the lesson
There's always things to contemplate
I'm finding for the second time
This is for the waves
Riders on the heart
Think I'm going to celebrate
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Lazy motions in the air
Is something I appreciate
I'm going to make a big shape black
And birds are going to shake
When the bridges all come down
Love is going to face a race
Love is going to see some time
Love is going to pray
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to break some legs
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to celebrate
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Thank you silly Jesus
There's always one sycophant
Never going to sleep on time
This is unfair
Thank you for the new sunrise
And all the shapes that luminate
Hardly get to sleep on time
I'm waiting for the rays
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to break some legs
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to celebrate
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
Riders on the heart
I think I'm going to break some legs
I'm going to take a big step back
Riders on the heart
I'm on the road again
I'm on the road again
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Riders On The Heart Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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