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,
I followed my king
To a war in a far southern land
Where men, said he, should prove his throne
I stood with my king
And was ready to strike them all down
But my king stood tall
And reached out, and took sword of his own
And as we departed, he said to me there
Before warring and feud could begin
If I am afraid to be beaten
Then where is the pride when I win
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
I followed my king
To the door of the vigilant squire
But a guardsman stood and barred the way
I stood with my king
And was ready to strike the man down
But my king took stall
And reached out, and shook hands at the gate
And as we departed, he said to me there
Before warring and feud could begin
If I won't clasp hands with a neighbour
Then how can I ask it of him
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
I followed my king
From his place at the mead hall's high seat
Where the hungry sat in grim array
I stood with my king
And was ready to strike the cook down
But my king stood tall
And reached out and he shouldered a tray
And as we departed he said to me there
Before warring and feud could begin
If I cannot serve in the kitchen
Then how can I serve them as king
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
To a war in a far southern land
Where men, said he, should prove his throne
I stood with my king
And was ready to strike them all down
But my king stood tall
And reached out, and took sword of his own
And as we departed, he said to me there
Before warring and feud could begin
If I am afraid to be beaten
Then where is the pride when I win
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
I followed my king
To the door of the vigilant squire
But a guardsman stood and barred the way
I stood with my king
And was ready to strike the man down
But my king took stall
And reached out, and shook hands at the gate
And as we departed, he said to me there
Before warring and feud could begin
If I won't clasp hands with a neighbour
Then how can I ask it of him
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
I followed my king
From his place at the mead hall's high seat
Where the hungry sat in grim array
I stood with my king
And was ready to strike the cook down
But my king stood tall
And reached out and he shouldered a tray
And as we departed he said to me there
Before warring and feud could begin
If I cannot serve in the kitchen
Then how can I serve them as king
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
In word and deed
I follow my king
The wisest among us and fair
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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