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,
Better take a look
At my circle
Better take a look around
Tell all my friends
Better take a look
At the colors of the people
[Chorus]
Young without lovers
Old without friends
Better say a prayer
For the poor and unhealthy
Better sing a song
For those who don't care
Let the people have the right
To be different
[Chorus]
Life is an abstraction
And it tries to fool us all
And it's working so far it seems
Brother against brother
This world is such a mess
Behind the drawn curtains
So our thoughts can not be seen
Better shake the hand
Of the hated
Better hear the words
That don't seem clear
Better take a look around
At what we're doing
[Chorus]
Better take a look
At my circle
Better take a look around
Tell all of my friends
Let the people have the right
To be different
[Chorus: x3]
At my circle
Better take a look around
Tell all my friends
Better take a look
At the colors of the people
[Chorus]
Young without lovers
Old without friends
Better say a prayer
For the poor and unhealthy
Better sing a song
For those who don't care
Let the people have the right
To be different
[Chorus]
Life is an abstraction
And it tries to fool us all
And it's working so far it seems
Brother against brother
This world is such a mess
Behind the drawn curtains
So our thoughts can not be seen
Better shake the hand
Of the hated
Better hear the words
That don't seem clear
Better take a look around
At what we're doing
[Chorus]
Better take a look
At my circle
Better take a look around
Tell all of my friends
Let the people have the right
To be different
[Chorus: x3]
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Young Without Lovers Lyrics as written by John Mellencamp
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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