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 take the cue from
Certain people I know
I use the cue
And then I
Hand it on to you
And when I swing it
So, it catches his eye...
(weren't you there ?
- you'd have died !)
I trust the views of
Certain people I know
They look at danger
And they
Laugh their heads off
Their clothes are imitation
George the 23rd
(don't you find this absurd?)
I'd hate to be like
Certain people I know
They break their necks
And can't afford to
Get them fixed
Ah, they'd sacrifice all
Of their principles for
Anything cashable
I do believe it's terrible
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Certain people I know
I use the cue
And then I
Hand it on to you
And when I swing it
So, it catches his eye...
(weren't you there ?
- you'd have died !)
I trust the views of
Certain people I know
They look at danger
And they
Laugh their heads off
Their clothes are imitation
George the 23rd
(don't you find this absurd?)
I'd hate to be like
Certain people I know
They break their necks
And can't afford to
Get them fixed
Ah, they'd sacrifice all
Of their principles for
Anything cashable
I do believe it's terrible
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Certain People I Know Lyrics as written by Steven Morrissey Alain Whyte
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this song is a critique about shallow and materialistic people, who while often very trendy, haven't got much substance.
Not sure what it's about, but I like the play on words at the beginning about taking the cue from someone (i.e. following what they day), and then the idea of swinging a snooker cue around as a weapon!
These lines probably hold the key to the whole song:
Ah, they'd sacrifice all Of their principles for anything cashable I do believe it's terrible
'Tis indeed.
I get kind of a flirty gay vibe from this line.
And when I swing it So, it catches his eye ... (Weren't you there ?
This seems like a reference to how he swings the mic, catching the eye of a male fan. This could mean a number of things, that he is aware of his charm and allure but that he is not one of these models, devoid of any thought or originality.
This video is quite hilarious I'd say. Morrissey poses in blazer, no shirt, lying in the sand at a beach with a sign that reads "Danger! No Swimming!". (Looking absolutely drop-dead gorgeous as usual)