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,
It's happy hour again
I think I might be happy if I wasn't out with them
And they're happy it's a lovely place to be
Happy that the fire is real the barman is a she
Where the haircuts smile
And the meaning of style
Is a night out with the boss
Where you win or you lose
And its them who choose
And if you don't win then you've lost
What a good place to be
Don't believe it
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
Don't believe it, oh no
'Cause it's never been happy for me (oh)
It's another night out with the boss
Following in footsteps overgrown with moss
And he tells me that women grow on trees
And if you catch them right they will land upon their knees
Where they open all their wallets
And they close all their minds
And they love to buy you all a drink
And then we ask all the questions
And you take all your clothes off
And go back to the kitchen sink
What a good place to be
Don't believe her
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
Don't believe her, oh no
'Cause it's never been happy for me
What a good place to be
Don't believe her
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
Don't believe her, oh no
'Cause it's never been happy for me (it's happy hour again)
Don't believe her, don't believe her (it's happy hour again)
Don't believe her(it's happy hour again)
And again, and again
It's happy hour again, and again, and again
It's happy hour again, and again, and again
It's happy hour again
I think I might be happy if I wasn't out with them
And they're happy it's a lovely place to be
Happy that the fire is real the barman is a she
Where the haircuts smile
And the meaning of style
Is a night out with the boss
Where you win or you lose
And its them who choose
And if you don't win then you've lost
What a good place to be
Don't believe it
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
Don't believe it, oh no
'Cause it's never been happy for me (oh)
It's another night out with the boss
Following in footsteps overgrown with moss
And he tells me that women grow on trees
And if you catch them right they will land upon their knees
Where they open all their wallets
And they close all their minds
And they love to buy you all a drink
And then we ask all the questions
And you take all your clothes off
And go back to the kitchen sink
What a good place to be
Don't believe her
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
Don't believe her, oh no
'Cause it's never been happy for me
What a good place to be
Don't believe her
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
Don't believe her, oh no
'Cause it's never been happy for me (it's happy hour again)
Don't believe her, don't believe her (it's happy hour again)
Don't believe her(it's happy hour again)
And again, and again
It's happy hour again, and again, and again
It's happy hour again, and again, and again
It's happy hour again
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the guitar is very similar to the one in I Want The One I Can't Have from The Smiths, I think the Housemartins copied the vibe from it