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,
The night gave you song
A light had been turned on
You walked out in the world
Like you belong there
As easy as a breeze
Each heart was yours to please
Is it only me who sees
There's something wrong there
Oh la la, I'm not a ghost now
I can see you
You need to see me
It's the little things that give you away
The words you cannot say
Your big mouth in the way
I saw you on the stairs
You didn't notice I was there
That's 'cause you were talking at me and Not to me
You were high above the storm
A hurricane being born
This freedom it might cost you your liberty
It's the little things that give you away
The words you cannot say
Your big mouth in the way
It's the little things that tease and betray
As the hunted I become the prey
It's the little things
The little things that give you away
Sometimes I can't believe my existence
See myself from a distance
I can't get back inside
Sometimes the air is so anxious
All my thoughts are so reckless
And all of my innocence has died
Sometimes I wake at four in the morning
When all the darkness is swarming
And it covers me in fear
Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes
Sometimes I'm full of anger and grieving
So far away from believing
That any song will reappear
Sometimes the end is not coming
It's not coming
The end is here
Sometimes
Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes
Sometimes when the painted glass shatters
And you're the only thing that matters
But I can't see you through the tears
Sometimes the end is not coming
It's not coming
The end is here
Sometimes
A light had been turned on
You walked out in the world
Like you belong there
As easy as a breeze
Each heart was yours to please
Is it only me who sees
There's something wrong there
Oh la la, I'm not a ghost now
I can see you
You need to see me
It's the little things that give you away
The words you cannot say
Your big mouth in the way
I saw you on the stairs
You didn't notice I was there
That's 'cause you were talking at me and Not to me
You were high above the storm
A hurricane being born
This freedom it might cost you your liberty
It's the little things that give you away
The words you cannot say
Your big mouth in the way
It's the little things that tease and betray
As the hunted I become the prey
It's the little things
The little things that give you away
Sometimes I can't believe my existence
See myself from a distance
I can't get back inside
Sometimes the air is so anxious
All my thoughts are so reckless
And all of my innocence has died
Sometimes I wake at four in the morning
When all the darkness is swarming
And it covers me in fear
Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes
Sometimes I'm full of anger and grieving
So far away from believing
That any song will reappear
Sometimes the end is not coming
It's not coming
The end is here
Sometimes
Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes
Sometimes when the painted glass shatters
And you're the only thing that matters
But I can't see you through the tears
Sometimes the end is not coming
It's not coming
The end is here
Sometimes
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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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
A truly great song. The climatic crescendo U2-signature ending. “Sometimes ...”
@VikPedigree Agreed. I love this song quite a bit.