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,
We're like summer and winter
We're not one bit alike
We're like satin and cinders
I'm definitely not your type
Well, then what are we doin' in love
What are we doin' in a mess like this
What are we doin' love
Why were you someone I couldn't resist
What are we doin' in love.
We're like paper and matches
We'll probably have our share of fights
We're like roses and switches
It's gonna be hard but we've got to try
Oh, what are we doin' in love
What are we doin' in love in a mess like this
What are we doin' in love
What are we gonna tell all our friends
You don't have to like someone to love someone
That rule was made to be broken
But if we have to say goodbye to a life we've gotten used to
What are we doin' in love then.
We're like sun up and sun down
People say we're never gonna last
We're like uptown and downtown
You like it slow and I like it fast
So what are we doin' love
What are we doin' love in a mess like this
What are we doin' love
What are we gonna tell all our friends
You don't have to like someone to love someone
That rule was made to be broken
But if we have to say goodbye to a life we've gotten used to
What are we doin' love then.
We're not one bit alike
We're like satin and cinders
I'm definitely not your type
Well, then what are we doin' in love
What are we doin' in a mess like this
What are we doin' love
Why were you someone I couldn't resist
What are we doin' in love.
We're like paper and matches
We'll probably have our share of fights
We're like roses and switches
It's gonna be hard but we've got to try
Oh, what are we doin' in love
What are we doin' in love in a mess like this
What are we doin' in love
What are we gonna tell all our friends
You don't have to like someone to love someone
That rule was made to be broken
But if we have to say goodbye to a life we've gotten used to
What are we doin' in love then.
We're like sun up and sun down
People say we're never gonna last
We're like uptown and downtown
You like it slow and I like it fast
So what are we doin' love
What are we doin' love in a mess like this
What are we doin' love
What are we gonna tell all our friends
You don't have to like someone to love someone
That rule was made to be broken
But if we have to say goodbye to a life we've gotten used to
What are we doin' love then.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
What Are We Doin' in Love? Lyrics as written by Randy Goodrum
Lyrics © MIRANDA MILLSAP D/B/A IRONSIDE MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song is about a man and a woman, each married to someone else, who are having an affair.
What are we doin' in a mess like this - The situation is a big mess.
What are we gonna tell all our friends - If it gets out, they will have to do a lot of explaining to all their friends, and it won't be easy.
But if we have to goodbye to a life we've gotten used to - They have gotten used to life with the ones they are with.
Maybe this is way off base, but that's what I get out of this song.