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,
see me at my desk, rested and well dressed
always there on time
funny how the clock that i used to watch
now never seems to mind
tried hard to collect interest and respect
by cutting out some things i thought didn't matter
turned all of my whines into "doing fines"
it saves me so much time
i'm stuck in a square, becoming one too
three stories above i hear there's a view
long way to the ground
but i'll probably stick around
now i've got a view
miles to the ocean
but i can't see you and maintain devotion
i wish i could say, "i'll be there"
and slowly the stories start to unbind
and tell me the years spent never were mine
i'm always to owe a debt to my heart
unless i can find a way to restart and take control
slowly the edge gets closer to you
you've got the most space with the greatest of views
you've paid off the debt you owe to your heart
you've paid off the debt, now go and restart
always there on time
funny how the clock that i used to watch
now never seems to mind
tried hard to collect interest and respect
by cutting out some things i thought didn't matter
turned all of my whines into "doing fines"
it saves me so much time
i'm stuck in a square, becoming one too
three stories above i hear there's a view
long way to the ground
but i'll probably stick around
now i've got a view
miles to the ocean
but i can't see you and maintain devotion
i wish i could say, "i'll be there"
and slowly the stories start to unbind
and tell me the years spent never were mine
i'm always to owe a debt to my heart
unless i can find a way to restart and take control
slowly the edge gets closer to you
you've got the most space with the greatest of views
you've paid off the debt you owe to your heart
you've paid off the debt, now go and restart
Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28
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no comments?!? its a great song
i think it can be interpreted in 2 different ways..
One as a midlife crisis realizing your loyalty to the work place has gotten you no where in life but a nice office and a good view of the big buisness world.
or two as a metaphor to an unraveling, dissolving relationship.
yeah, i think both work. i was leaning more towards the midlife crisis thing. probably my favorite ozma song.
Almost seems like a song about suicide and how he's going through so much tough stuff in his life but no one seems to notice.
"see me at my desk, rested and well dressed always there on time" No one notices that he's struggling, and just sees this guy who comes to work every day.
"turned all of my whines into "doing fines" it saves me so much time" He knows people don't care, so instead of talking about his tough situation he just lies and says hes doing fine.
"three stories above i hear there's a view long way to the ground but i'll probably stick around" The main line that makes me think it's about suicide. Long way to the ground makes me think, maybe he's considering jumping off? But he can't, because he's too afriad so he'll probably "stick around".
"now i've got a view miles to the ocean but i can't see you and maintain devotion i wish i could say, "i'll be there" He wants to stay with this certain girl, but things are pulling him away. Without this girl, he feels he can't go on.
"unless i can find a way to restart and take control" Restart could be a synonym for killing yourself and moving onto the afterlife.
"slowly the edge gets closer to you you've got the most space with the greatest of views" Slowly getting closer to the edge of the building you're about to leap off of?
@preston627 I originally thought this as well until I went through a reread of the lyrics and saw the lyrics "You've paid off the debt you owe to your heart" which made me thinks the character in this song has satisfied himself with what he's been missing out on in life
I feel like this song is just for anybody who is tired and lonely, they have been living this same routine for so long and they just feel alone. "turned all of my whines into doing fines, it saved me so much time." that lyric is so beautiful and so honest, we all have done that in a time of loneliness when you feel that no one really cares. as he thinks over his life he considers suicide "3 stories above, i hear theres a view. long way to the ground..." but then you realize, no i don't want that, i can fix this. then it continues "now ive got a view, miles to the ocean" and thats positive but unfortunately he just doesnt have time for a girl or something he loved "but i cant see you and maintain devotion, i wish i could say i'll be there." and then he realizes, having that ocean view is not what he wants, whatever the ocean view is, could be a lot of things, he realizes he can go back to whatever it was. you can restart, pay off the debt you owe to your heat... go and restart. it feels like "a light at the end of the tunnel" kind of song.. so beautifully sincere
I love this song so much. It's so nice.
I agree with the midlife crisis thing, but it always makes me think of summer holidays. =)
Not a good song to listen to while driving to work. Haha, starts your whole day off wrong. But still LOVE it!!
In my opinion, I think this song is about the story of a man who bottled up his emotions his whole life, and never took the time to actually take care of himself, which drives him to suicide. He wants to find a way to restart his life, and take control. He's bottled everything in his life, he feels he can't say anything to anyone, as he'll come off whiney. He finds himself on the edge of a three story building, reminiscing on everything he did to get there.
I think the song is about a break up, and he’s sitting at his desk thinking about her and realizing how much he still loves her, but she’s gone and they both have to restart.