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,
Don't try to reach me
I'm already dead
The pain when it grips me
For things that I've done
Well I try to make you proud
But for crying out loud
Just give me a chance to hide away
Exhaustion takes over
Will this someday be over?
[Chorus]
Fearful tears are running down
The pain you've laid don't speak a sound
Don't take my heart away from me
And they think I fell down again
Daddy don't you love me
Then why do you hit me?
And Momma don't you love me
Then why do you hurt me?
Well I've tried to make you proud
But for crying out loud
Just give me a chance to hide away
Exhaustion takes over
Will this someday be over?
[Chorus: x2]
A teardrop falls
From up in the heavens
Drowning the sorrow of angels in high
For the least of the helpless
The hopeless, the loveless
My Jesus, His children,
He holds in His arms
He loves you, He sees you,
He knows you, protects you,
He needs you, He holds you
I'm already dead
The pain when it grips me
For things that I've done
Well I try to make you proud
But for crying out loud
Just give me a chance to hide away
Exhaustion takes over
Will this someday be over?
[Chorus]
Fearful tears are running down
The pain you've laid don't speak a sound
Don't take my heart away from me
And they think I fell down again
Daddy don't you love me
Then why do you hit me?
And Momma don't you love me
Then why do you hurt me?
Well I've tried to make you proud
But for crying out loud
Just give me a chance to hide away
Exhaustion takes over
Will this someday be over?
[Chorus: x2]
A teardrop falls
From up in the heavens
Drowning the sorrow of angels in high
For the least of the helpless
The hopeless, the loveless
My Jesus, His children,
He holds in His arms
He loves you, He sees you,
He knows you, protects you,
He needs you, He holds you
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
i love the end:
"A teardrop falls from up in the heavens Drowning the sorrow of angels on high For the least of the helpless, the hopeless, the loveless My Jesus, His children, He holds in His eyes"
because it talks about how God is hurting with the child, because he has to watch his children being tortured. And how he still loves them more than ever and is always there to give comfort and hope.
the very end, which was left out in the lyrics above goes:
"he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you..."
this is an awesome part because it shows how much Jesus loves us and how well he knows us and wants us in his arms. Then the song just fades out as these words are still being sung, because his love for us is everlasting and unconditional and he continues to love us forever, so to just stop saying it would be saying that his love ends, which it doesn't. (but obviously we can't sing it forever because we have to have a life, but to God we ARE his life and he never stops thinking about us!! amazing)