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,
You opened up your door
I couldn't believe my luck
You in your new blue dress
Taking away my breath
The cradle is soft and warm
Couldn't do me no harm
You're showing me how to give
Into temptation
Knowing full well the earth will rebel
Into temptation
A muddle of nervous words
Could never amount to betrayal
The sentence is all my own
The price is to watch it fail
As I turn to go
You looked at me for half a second
With an open invitation for me to go
Into temptation
Knowing full well the earth will rebel
Into temptation
Safe in the wide open arms of hell
We can go sailing in
Climb down, lose yourself when you linger long
Into temptation
Right where you belong
The guilty get no sleep
In the last slow hours of morning
Experience is cheap
I should've listened to the warning
But the cradle is soft and warm
Into temptation
Knowing full well the earth will rebel
Into your wide open arms
No way to break the spell
Don't tell
I couldn't believe my luck
You in your new blue dress
Taking away my breath
The cradle is soft and warm
Couldn't do me no harm
You're showing me how to give
Into temptation
Knowing full well the earth will rebel
Into temptation
A muddle of nervous words
Could never amount to betrayal
The sentence is all my own
The price is to watch it fail
As I turn to go
You looked at me for half a second
With an open invitation for me to go
Into temptation
Knowing full well the earth will rebel
Into temptation
Safe in the wide open arms of hell
We can go sailing in
Climb down, lose yourself when you linger long
Into temptation
Right where you belong
The guilty get no sleep
In the last slow hours of morning
Experience is cheap
I should've listened to the warning
But the cradle is soft and warm
Into temptation
Knowing full well the earth will rebel
Into your wide open arms
No way to break the spell
Don't tell
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"The guilty get no sleep..." I love that part. Probably doesn't mean much to people who don't mind getting laid by anything on legs, but for any one else, it kind of epitomizes the struggle between what we want and doing what we feel is right.
My fav Crowded House song... The sparseness of the guitar line during the verses can only be described as beautiful. I heard an interview on JJJ that this song was inspired by a hotel Neil stayed at where a football team was housed up alongside a netball team and how Neil was kept awake by their activities...
Anway this song is full of imagery and great lines...
My personal fav is:
A muddle of nervous words Could never amount to betrayal
I can relate to this and everytime I hear it, it is too sharp a reminder of my own failings...
"Knowing full well the earth will rebel"
I love this line.
It's a bit of a hyperbole, but it shows the thoughts of a man tempted to have a affair, but paranoid that if he does he will be found out.
incredibly beautiful. an all-time favorite.
the classic im fucking around on you anthem.
What a great song. Neil Finn, in my opinion, is the best at writing lyrics that capture moments in life. Everyone who has a soul can relate to this song. "Lose yourself when you linger long"...watch out.
"The guilty get no sleep.." Wonder if Neil was influenced by George Michael? "Guilty feet have got no rhythm" Naaaa - no way! This is my favourite Crowded House song
I was reading an interview with Elvis Costello in which he singled out Neil Finn as one of the greatest living songwriters. Costello also said he wished he had written this song.
I complete believe Elvis Costello saying Finn is one of the greatest living songwriters. The Finn Bros. make exquisite pop songs. At their best, and In Temptation is a good example, they remind me of McCartney/ Lennon. Just perfectly crafted songs.
Neil spoke about this song in the early 90s at a concert in Newport/Cardiff ... I recall (heh its 16 years ago now) him mentioning being tempted by the girl in the blue dress and also about the 'earth will rebel' bit being about how Californian excess will lead to the earth rebelling in the form of an earthquake. So I'm going for an analogy between personal temptation and Californian excess - but no soothsaying or moralism just his usual 'wouldn't it be fun or interesting (or intriguing) to see it this way'. So if your tempted be prepared for the consequences. Oh by the way, fantastic song, yeah he's the best songwriter since L&M, I reckon he's inherited the McCartney role and Costello the Lennon role and both have taken them further but still haven't written anywhere near as many classics, but one man's apple is anothers ....