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'm kissaphobic
Don't wanna get too close to you
Your mouth is a hurricane
Something sweet before the pain
I'm kissaphobic
That body don't wanna hold it it no
You'll loosen your dress, you'll pull at my neck and we'll
Break what can't be broken.
Throwing the cabernet back
In a bright blue cadillac
You're Marilyn Monroe
And I am James Dean's heart attack
Spin me around
Keep me spinning around
Keep me swaying to the band
Your fingers are quivering
It's hips when you're shivering
I wanna hold your hand
I'm kissaphobic
Don't wanna get too close to you
Your mouth is a hurricane
You'll down me in the rain
Shouting curses at Ursa Minor
As you beckon me to the covers
It's cute when you do it
But Cupid is stupid
He shot the wrong lovers
Throwing the cabernet back
In a bright blue cadillac
You're Marilyn Monroe
And I am James Dean's heart attack
Spin me around
Keep me spinning around
Keep swaying to the band
Your fingers are quivering
It's hips when you're shivering
I wanna hold your hand
You said take the chance
Take the chance
I wanna hold your hand
But I can't get too close to you my darling, can't get too close
God help me if I do, you'll leave me broken hearted
You'll leave me stitching my lips up again everybody now
But I can't get too close to you my darling, can't get too close
God help me if I do, you'll leave me broken hearted
You'll leave me lonely at best, lonely at best.
I can't get too close, lonely at best
I can't get too close, I wanna hold your hand
But I'm kissaphobic
Don't wanna get too close to you
Your mouth is a hurricane
You do this a lot now don't you baby.
Don't wanna get too close to you
Your mouth is a hurricane
Something sweet before the pain
I'm kissaphobic
That body don't wanna hold it it no
You'll loosen your dress, you'll pull at my neck and we'll
Break what can't be broken.
Throwing the cabernet back
In a bright blue cadillac
You're Marilyn Monroe
And I am James Dean's heart attack
Spin me around
Keep me spinning around
Keep me swaying to the band
Your fingers are quivering
It's hips when you're shivering
I wanna hold your hand
I'm kissaphobic
Don't wanna get too close to you
Your mouth is a hurricane
You'll down me in the rain
Shouting curses at Ursa Minor
As you beckon me to the covers
It's cute when you do it
But Cupid is stupid
He shot the wrong lovers
Throwing the cabernet back
In a bright blue cadillac
You're Marilyn Monroe
And I am James Dean's heart attack
Spin me around
Keep me spinning around
Keep swaying to the band
Your fingers are quivering
It's hips when you're shivering
I wanna hold your hand
You said take the chance
Take the chance
I wanna hold your hand
But I can't get too close to you my darling, can't get too close
God help me if I do, you'll leave me broken hearted
You'll leave me stitching my lips up again everybody now
But I can't get too close to you my darling, can't get too close
God help me if I do, you'll leave me broken hearted
You'll leave me lonely at best, lonely at best.
I can't get too close, lonely at best
I can't get too close, I wanna hold your hand
But I'm kissaphobic
Don't wanna get too close to you
Your mouth is a hurricane
You do this a lot now don't you baby.
Lyrics submitted by jackbatman
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
I think this song is about Asexuality. Listen to the lyrics like an asexual would, maybe I\'m just biased but it makes too much sense.
this song is just about being scared to get emotionaly involved in a relationship in fear of being heartbroken
I'm kissaphobic Don't wanna get too close to you(im scared to kiss you or get attached)
Your mouth is a hurricane Something sweet before the pain(this part doesnt make much sense)
I'm kissaphobic That body don't wanna hold it it no(you dont want to wait)
You'll loosen your dress, you'll pull at my neck and we'll Break what can't be broken. Throwing the cabernet back In a bright blue cadillac(hes describing how it would go and you can tell he is longing for it to happen)
You're Marilyn Monroe And I am James Dean's heart attack(i think that this is just allegory. he is saying that she is beautifull and great and he is just no good)
Spin me around Keep me spinning around Keep me swaying to the band Your fingers are quivering It's hips when you're shivering I wanna hold your hand I'm kissaphobic Don't wanna get too close to you Your mouth is a hurricane You'll down me in the rain(i wanna dance and hold hands and do all sorts of stuff with you but im scared)
Shouting curses at Ursa Minor(he needs someone to blame for him being scared and unwilling to do all he wants)
As you beckon me to the covers It's cute when you do it But Cupid is stupid He shot the wrong lovers( he is saying that cupid is stupid because he chose her for him and he loves her but she wants to show her love in sexual ways but she cant do it with him)
You said take the chance Take the chance I wanna hold your hand(she tells him that she wont break his heart and that he should trust her and take the chance)
But I can't get too close to you my darling, can't get too close God help me if I do, you'll leave me broken hearted You'll leave me stitching my lips up again everybody now But I can't get too close to you my darling, can't get too close God help me if I do, you'll leave me broken hearted You'll leave me lonely at best, lonely at best. I can't get too close, lonely at best I can't get too close, I wanna hold your hand But I'm kissaphobic(he knows that she will leave him, probably because of past experiences)
Don't wanna get too close to you Your mouth is a hurricane You do this a lot now don't you baby.(i think, based on the lyrics and the video, that he ended getting emotionally attached and kissing and going to bed with her and then she did break his heart. i think this line is him lamenting and thinking back and wondering how many guys shes done this to.)