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,
All her wants to fill a need.
She wants to save you with her bandages after she makes you bleed.
Like a vampire, a parasite.
Stretch the necks of her victims, she finds her prey in broad daylight.
When you're up, she's down, down she's up, it whips around.
It's the ride the way that she needs it.
Whatever she wanted for whatever you need.
Speechless and silent while she takes everything.
Kryptonite underneath; you used to be her superman,
But now you're fading, now you're weak.
Never how or why it worked to play the big lie.
To dim the truth from causing wet eyes.
Whatever she wanted, for whatever you need.
Speechless and silent while she takes everything.
She wants to save you with her bandages after she makes you bleed.
Like a vampire, a parasite.
Stretch the necks of her victims, she finds her prey in broad daylight.
When you're up, she's down, down she's up, it whips around.
It's the ride the way that she needs it.
Whatever she wanted for whatever you need.
Speechless and silent while she takes everything.
Kryptonite underneath; you used to be her superman,
But now you're fading, now you're weak.
Never how or why it worked to play the big lie.
To dim the truth from causing wet eyes.
Whatever she wanted, for whatever you need.
Speechless and silent while she takes everything.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I have an interpretation of this song that I have seen personally. There was a girl I knew who just had to have a boyfriend and so she would put on acts in front of her present boyfriend so that she could hold on to him. She "saved him with her bandages" because he wanted a girlfriend and any problems with family he had he could go to her with. She wanted him totally to herself and wanted to kick his family out of the picture. Therefore when he was down with his family she was up, rejoicing inside. His faith used to be strong in the Lord but now he is filled with hate for his family and is not speaking with them. He used to be strong, he was her superman whenever his family would point out that this girl was tearing the family apart he would back her up and be her superman. She took everything of value from him including his family and strong faith in the Lord. So it was whatever she wanted she got from him...it ended up costing him everything.
Awesome couldn't have said it better...haha been there and done that. I have the whole wardrobe not just the t-shirt. With all thanks to god i'm back in action. The song kind of reminds me of Jezebel and Ahab. ha. What ever she wants for what ever he thought he needed. in the end cost alot of people there lives.
In my opinion they're talking about depression. "Like a vampire, a parasite. Stretch the necks of her victims, she finds her prey in broad daylight." They talk about the way depression afects people. "When you're up, she's down, down she's up, it whips around. It's the ride the way that she needs it." Now they are talking about how someone can be lightly better, giving the false impression she disappeared, but she is just down ready to strike againg. They explain how depression can make a superman fades, and she is invisible.