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,
Kudos to you without a doubt
You've done us quite an extra scout
You took upon a major task
And now you're living back in the past
New life sink into the light
High-tech girls and countrysides
Never trust a ponytail
His evil charm is off the scale
He'll lock you in his mansion house
You'll be playing with toy cars
While he occupies a couch
His demonstration, conversation bomb
I've got a thing or two for you
Never write without a second verse
Don't ever play a ballad first
We may have got the first kiss in
But don't give all your hopes just yet
He's looking at your record pile
Playing your music with a smile
She may have lots of fancy toys
Better luck with all the boys
But Jenny Kelly, this one's for you
You're famous for your awkward smile
Your purple hair, your wayward style
You took upon a chance my dear
No creditor, no crowd to cheer
And I've got a new one for you
I'm still having doubts
Never cross at a crossing guard
Don't ever pick fights with louts
I'm not around to miss you, Jenny Kelly
I'm not around to miss your smile
I'm not around to miss you, Jenny Kelly
I'm not around
I'm not around, my friend
You're my friend
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, my friend
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, my friend
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
You're my friend, oh Jenny Kelly
You're my friend, oh Jenny Kelly
Oh Jenny Kelly
You've done us quite an extra scout
You took upon a major task
And now you're living back in the past
New life sink into the light
High-tech girls and countrysides
Never trust a ponytail
His evil charm is off the scale
He'll lock you in his mansion house
You'll be playing with toy cars
While he occupies a couch
His demonstration, conversation bomb
I've got a thing or two for you
Never write without a second verse
Don't ever play a ballad first
We may have got the first kiss in
But don't give all your hopes just yet
He's looking at your record pile
Playing your music with a smile
She may have lots of fancy toys
Better luck with all the boys
But Jenny Kelly, this one's for you
You're famous for your awkward smile
Your purple hair, your wayward style
You took upon a chance my dear
No creditor, no crowd to cheer
And I've got a new one for you
I'm still having doubts
Never cross at a crossing guard
Don't ever pick fights with louts
I'm not around to miss you, Jenny Kelly
I'm not around to miss your smile
I'm not around to miss you, Jenny Kelly
I'm not around
I'm not around, my friend
You're my friend
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, my friend
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, my friend
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
Goodbye, Jenny Kelly
You're my friend, oh Jenny Kelly
You're my friend, oh Jenny Kelly
Oh Jenny Kelly
Lyrics submitted by alexampersand
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More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
Trouble Breathing
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
While the obvious connections with suicide or alcoholism could be drawn easily, more subtly this song could be about someone who views the world through a negative lens constantly and how as much as the writer tries to show the beauty in the world, this person refuses to see it. It's one or another between the rope and the bottle. There is no good option for this person. They can't see it. Skiba sings it in a kind of exasperated way like He's tired of hearing this negative view constantly and just allowing that person to continue feeling the way they feel knowing he can't do anything about it. You can hear it when he says maybe you're a vampire.
Allegedly about a Dublin dj of the same name. Allegedly.
It's about Jenny Kelly from the early 90's time travel show The Girl From Tomorrow. It references characters (Alana - with her fancy toys, Silverthorn - evil charm and ponytail, Nick - looking at her record pile) and scenes from the series, as well as Jenny Kelly's awesome purple hair and awkward smile. She should have songs written about her.