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 can see it in your eyes
I can hear it in your voice
The signs are obvious that all we had has run its course
I don't mind giving up the upper hand in this little charade
Well I spent too many nights on the floor
Waiting for something inside you to change
Don't look back in anger now its all that you can see
'Cause angers all I got to keep me warm when your away
Well, I know that this is nothing new
But tonight it's all I know
Disconnect myself from your memory
I'll never feel anything at all
To justify with all your words
Don't mean anything to me
'Cause I've cut you off
I cut you off
So here we stand and face each other
We've got nothing to say
A flashback to another time
When silence was a welcome friend
And now I'm sorry I can never really say
All the things going on inside my head
Silence is a justified expression of my war
Now, nothing's like it was before
Don't look back in anger
Now it's all that you could say?
'Cause anger's all I got to keep me warm when you're away
And all your words
And all your actions don't mean anything to me
'Cause I've cut you off
Don't look back in anger
Don't look back in anger
Don't look back in anger, it's just a memory
And I'm sorry I could never really say (don't look back in anger)
All the things going on inside my head (don't look back in anger)
Silence is a justified expression of my war now (don't look back in anger)
Nothing's like it was before (it's just a memory)
No, it's easy to forget your face
And it's easy to survive in this place without you
Without you
I just comb my hair and wash my face
Keep straight ahead and keep my pace
Don't think about nothing
And my days will be alright
Well I got my friends, got my pen
Got a million distractions to keep me warm
And I know that I'll be alright
And I'll be alright
The list of human beings taking the repeated doses
Need the individuals or preferably the time and places where briefly used
I can hear it in your voice
The signs are obvious that all we had has run its course
I don't mind giving up the upper hand in this little charade
Well I spent too many nights on the floor
Waiting for something inside you to change
Don't look back in anger now its all that you can see
'Cause angers all I got to keep me warm when your away
Well, I know that this is nothing new
But tonight it's all I know
Disconnect myself from your memory
I'll never feel anything at all
To justify with all your words
Don't mean anything to me
'Cause I've cut you off
I cut you off
So here we stand and face each other
We've got nothing to say
A flashback to another time
When silence was a welcome friend
And now I'm sorry I can never really say
All the things going on inside my head
Silence is a justified expression of my war
Now, nothing's like it was before
Don't look back in anger
Now it's all that you could say?
'Cause anger's all I got to keep me warm when you're away
And all your words
And all your actions don't mean anything to me
'Cause I've cut you off
Don't look back in anger
Don't look back in anger
Don't look back in anger, it's just a memory
And I'm sorry I could never really say (don't look back in anger)
All the things going on inside my head (don't look back in anger)
Silence is a justified expression of my war now (don't look back in anger)
Nothing's like it was before (it's just a memory)
No, it's easy to forget your face
And it's easy to survive in this place without you
Without you
I just comb my hair and wash my face
Keep straight ahead and keep my pace
Don't think about nothing
And my days will be alright
Well I got my friends, got my pen
Got a million distractions to keep me warm
And I know that I'll be alright
And I'll be alright
The list of human beings taking the repeated doses
Need the individuals or preferably the time and places where briefly used
Lyrics submitted by imapunxlvr
Matchbook Lyrics as written by Robert J Ramos Jordan Lieberman
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is one of strung out's best songs in my opinion. it's an anthem for those who have waited and tried for another to decide wether or not to grasp the opportunity of relationship that could work with a little effort from the other side. A person can only go so far before they give up on a hope like this, especially when they are pulled in every direction by the significant other, not knowing the truth. The line "Now I'm sorry I can never really say all the things going on inside my head." is one that anyone can relate to in situations that they've deeply cared about and didn't want to ruin. I'm just an 19 year old boy so what do I know. Thats what I think. The guitar and drums on this track are very intense, they couldnt be better. Vocals fit the music PERFECTLY. Like an orange in an orange peel. With a song like this, I could go crazy to the music and the power of the vocals, or sit and think about the lyrics. Great physical and emotional encouragement.