I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I know I shouldn't be here tonight
I hardly know this man
It's been a long time since I felt as pretty, as he tells me I am
I've met him at a coffee shop and I've met him in the park
But I've never been alone with him in this dress after dark
There's so many shades of grey but this is black and white
He's some stranger's husband and I'm some stranger's wife
Ten floors up he's waiting with champagne and candle light
What'll keep me out of heaven will take me there tonight
The arrow's on the second floor
The bell's about to ring
And I have to turn away right now
Or walk into this thing
If I step into that elevator, there ain't no turning around
And I don't know what scares me most the ride up or the ride down
There's so many shades of grey but this is black and white
He's some stranger's husband and I'm some stranger's wife
Ten floors up he's waiting with champagne and candle light
What'll keep me out of heaven will take me there tonight
Ten floors up he's waiting with champagne and candle light
What'll keep me out of heaven will take me there tonight
I hardly know this man
It's been a long time since I felt as pretty, as he tells me I am
I've met him at a coffee shop and I've met him in the park
But I've never been alone with him in this dress after dark
There's so many shades of grey but this is black and white
He's some stranger's husband and I'm some stranger's wife
Ten floors up he's waiting with champagne and candle light
What'll keep me out of heaven will take me there tonight
The arrow's on the second floor
The bell's about to ring
And I have to turn away right now
Or walk into this thing
If I step into that elevator, there ain't no turning around
And I don't know what scares me most the ride up or the ride down
There's so many shades of grey but this is black and white
He's some stranger's husband and I'm some stranger's wife
Ten floors up he's waiting with champagne and candle light
What'll keep me out of heaven will take me there tonight
Ten floors up he's waiting with champagne and candle light
What'll keep me out of heaven will take me there tonight
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
What'll Keep Me Out of Heaven Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © HARLAN HOWARD SONGS, INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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