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,
Oh baby it's cryin' time
Oh baby I got to fly
Got to try to find a way
Got to try to get away
'Cause you know I gotta get away from you babe
Oh baby the river's red, ah baby in my head
There's a funny feelin' goin' on
I don't think I can hold out long
And when the owls cry in the night
Oh baby, baby when the pines begin to cry
Baby, baby, baby how do you feel?
If the river runs dry, baby, how do you feel?
Craze, baby, the rainbow's end, mmm, baby, it's just a den
For those who hide, who hide their love to depths of life
And ruin dreams that we all knew so, babe
And when the owls cry in the night
And baby when the pines begin to cry
Oh baby, baby, how do you feel?
If the river runs dry, baby, how do you feel?
Baby how do you feel?
Ooh yeah, brave I endure
Ooh yeah, strong shields and lore
And they can't hold the wrath of those who walk
An' the boots of those who march
Baby, through the roads of time so long ago
Ooooh, yeah
Ooooh
Oooooh, yeah
Ahhh
Ahhh
Ahhh
Ahhh
Oooooh
Hooooh
Hooooh
Hooooh
Hahhhh
Hoooh hooh hoooh hah hahhh
Oh baby I got to fly
Got to try to find a way
Got to try to get away
'Cause you know I gotta get away from you babe
Oh baby the river's red, ah baby in my head
There's a funny feelin' goin' on
I don't think I can hold out long
And when the owls cry in the night
Oh baby, baby when the pines begin to cry
Baby, baby, baby how do you feel?
If the river runs dry, baby, how do you feel?
Craze, baby, the rainbow's end, mmm, baby, it's just a den
For those who hide, who hide their love to depths of life
And ruin dreams that we all knew so, babe
And when the owls cry in the night
And baby when the pines begin to cry
Oh baby, baby, how do you feel?
If the river runs dry, baby, how do you feel?
Baby how do you feel?
Ooh yeah, brave I endure
Ooh yeah, strong shields and lore
And they can't hold the wrath of those who walk
An' the boots of those who march
Baby, through the roads of time so long ago
Ooooh, yeah
Ooooh
Oooooh, yeah
Ahhh
Ahhh
Ahhh
Ahhh
Oooooh
Hooooh
Hooooh
Hooooh
Hahhhh
Hoooh hooh hoooh hah hahhh
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Bonham plays this song with two sticks in each hand - pretty damn impressive drumming.