I only know Renato Russo's version, which I love. To me, this is a song about death, the death of someone he loved. To be dressed in clothes of sand means to be buried. To be taken far from my land (land of the living) and he "stayed much too long" (wished to die to be close to that person again).
"clothes of sand have covered your face" - again, an allusion to be buried;
"given you meaning but taken my place" - We tend to give value to people after they die, not always noticing it when they're alive. But it "took his place", he cannot have her anymore.
I only know Renato Russo's version, which I love. To me, this is a song about death, the death of someone he loved. To be dressed in clothes of sand means to be buried. To be taken far from my land (land of the living) and he "stayed much too long" (wished to die to be close to that person again).
"clothes of sand have covered your face" - again, an allusion to be buried;
"given you meaning but taken my place" - We tend to give value to people after they die, not always noticing it when they're alive. But it "took his place", he cannot have her anymore.