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,
Like a river, li-like a river, sh-
Like a river, li-like a river, sh-
Like a river, li-like a river
Shut your mouth and (run me like a river)
How do we fall in love
Harder than a bullet could hit ya?
How do we fall apart
Faster than a hair pin trigger?
Don't you say, don't you say it
Don't say, don't you say it
One breath, it'll just break it
So shut your mouth and (run me like a river)
Shut your mouth, baby stand and deliver
Holy hands, oh they make me a sinner
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a
Choke this love till the veins start to shiver
One last breath till the tears start to wither
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Tales of an endless heart
Cursed is the fool who's willing
Can't change the way we are
One kiss away from killing
Don't you say, don't you say it
Don't say, don't you say it
One breath it'll just break it
So shut your mouth and (run me like a river)
Shut your mouth, baby stand and deliver
Holy hands, make me a sinner
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a
Choke this love till the veins start to shiver
One last breath, tears start to wither
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Like a river, li-ike a river
Like a river, li-ike a river (oh, oh-oh)
Like a river, li-ike a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Like a river
Stand and deliver
Oh baby
A sinner
Like a river
Run me like a
Choke this love till the veins start to shiver
One last breath, tears start to wither
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Like a...
Like a...
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Like a river, li-like a river, sh-
Like a river, li-like a river
Shut your mouth and (run me like a river)
How do we fall in love
Harder than a bullet could hit ya?
How do we fall apart
Faster than a hair pin trigger?
Don't you say, don't you say it
Don't say, don't you say it
One breath, it'll just break it
So shut your mouth and (run me like a river)
Shut your mouth, baby stand and deliver
Holy hands, oh they make me a sinner
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a
Choke this love till the veins start to shiver
One last breath till the tears start to wither
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Tales of an endless heart
Cursed is the fool who's willing
Can't change the way we are
One kiss away from killing
Don't you say, don't you say it
Don't say, don't you say it
One breath it'll just break it
So shut your mouth and (run me like a river)
Shut your mouth, baby stand and deliver
Holy hands, make me a sinner
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a
Choke this love till the veins start to shiver
One last breath, tears start to wither
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Like a river, li-ike a river
Like a river, li-ike a river (oh, oh-oh)
Like a river, li-ike a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Like a river
Stand and deliver
Oh baby
A sinner
Like a river
Run me like a
Choke this love till the veins start to shiver
One last breath, tears start to wither
Like a river, like a river
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Like a...
Like a...
Shut your mouth and run me like a river
Lyrics submitted by Kiamelnaru
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Zombie
Cranberries, The
Cranberries, The
"Zombie" is about the ethno-political conflict in Ireland. This is obvious if you know anything of the singer (Dolores O'Riordan)'s Irish heritage and understood the "1916" Easter Rising reference.
"Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we mistaken
-
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over"
Laments the Warrington bomb attacks in which two children were fatally injured on March 23rd, 1993. Twelve year old Tim Parry was taken off life support with permission from his mother after five days in the hospital, virtually braindead.
"But you see it's not me
It's not my family"
References how people who are not directly involved with the violence feel about it. They are "zombies" without sympathy who refuse to take action while others suffer.
In my opinion, she is like a river, and merely following all of the patterns of a tumultuous relationship as if she was merely 'going with the flow'. Starts out great (falling in love), but like a river, pollution is bound to happen somewhere along the line. Perhaps even 'a good person' (actually bad people) cleansing themselves of their sins in it, like baptism. I may be far from my small interpretation, but I'm sure it's just all about going with the flow of a messy relationship.
I feel like most of Bishop Briggs songs, this is about one 2 things, love with the undertones of heavy drug addiction. Here is my opinion
How do we fall in love Harder than a bullet could hit ya How do we fall apart Faster than a hair pin trigger- Explains how easy it is to fall into addiction.
Shut your mouth and run me like a river- Shut up and give me a shot
Choke this blood till the veins start to shiver- preparing for injection.
One last breath till the tears start to wither- Either smoking more or just intaking breath after shot.
Tales of an endless heart - The lie that drugs can make you feel good forever
Curses is the fool who's willing- Curses whoever gets addicted
Can't change the way we are One kiss away from killing- One step away from overdose at all times.
There is also the obvious meaning that this is about a destructive relationship, but as with most Bishop Briggs songs I feel like it has it's obvious meaning than the one about drugs underneath. I honestly feel like this woman is struggling with some serious drug addiction problems or maybe she has had them in the past.