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 read about a man to whom I may be related
Leatherman
Died a long time ago, in the 1880s
Leatherman, Leatherman
Covered with leather but it wasn't tight
Underneath the moon in the woods at night
Making the rounds, ten miles a day
Once a month they spot him
Here's what they say:
"Here he comes, he's a man of the land
He's Leatherman
Smile on his face
Axe in his pack
He's Leatherman, Leatherman, Leatherman."
Comes out of the caves once a day to be fed
He wasn't known to say much
But, "Thanks for the bread."
So modern day I walk my way, my jacket faded
Just like a man of leather to whom I may be related
Rolled a cigarette for which he asked for a light
Appeared to be an animal, yet so polite
Making the rounds, ten miles a day
Once a month they spot him
Here's what they say:
"Here he comes, he's a man of the land
He's Leatherman
Smile on his face
Axe in his pack
He's Leatherman, Leatherman, Leatherman
He's Leatherman, Leatherman."
Shakes his head, he's Leatherman
Bake some bread, he's Leatherman
Shame he's dead
I saw his bed
It's all that's left of Leatherman
Leatherman
Give me some skin, Leatherman.
Leatherman
Died a long time ago, in the 1880s
Leatherman, Leatherman
Covered with leather but it wasn't tight
Underneath the moon in the woods at night
Making the rounds, ten miles a day
Once a month they spot him
Here's what they say:
"Here he comes, he's a man of the land
He's Leatherman
Smile on his face
Axe in his pack
He's Leatherman, Leatherman, Leatherman."
Comes out of the caves once a day to be fed
He wasn't known to say much
But, "Thanks for the bread."
So modern day I walk my way, my jacket faded
Just like a man of leather to whom I may be related
Rolled a cigarette for which he asked for a light
Appeared to be an animal, yet so polite
Making the rounds, ten miles a day
Once a month they spot him
Here's what they say:
"Here he comes, he's a man of the land
He's Leatherman
Smile on his face
Axe in his pack
He's Leatherman, Leatherman, Leatherman
He's Leatherman, Leatherman."
Shakes his head, he's Leatherman
Bake some bread, he's Leatherman
Shame he's dead
I saw his bed
It's all that's left of Leatherman
Leatherman
Give me some skin, Leatherman.
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i don't think it is part of the trilogy, that's alive, once and footsteps, isn't it?