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,
Spending all your money
Ain’t it funny how the time goes by?
First you start believing
Then you’re leaving for no reason
And you’re wondering why
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised if your head hurts
Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Whisper in the ways
Watching days and moving on
You wake up every Monday then suddenly it’s Sunday
And the week is gone
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised at the sunrise
Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Oh, do you wonder where it starts
Where it ends
What you find around the bend
Oh, do you wonder where she’s from
Where she goes
No one knows
Now and then you wonder
Why you’re spending all your money
Ain’t it funny how she walks on by?
She had you all believing
Now she’s leaving for no reason
And you’re wondering why
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised if your heart hurts
Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Oh, do you wonder where it starts
Where it ends
What you find around the bend
And oh, do you wonder where she’s from
Where she goes
No one knows
Now and then
Oh, do you wonder where it starts
Where it ends
What you find around the bend
And do you wonder where she’s from
Where she goes
No one knows
Now and then you wonder
Why life is for the living, the forgiven and the leaving town alive
Life is for the living, the forgiven and the leaving town alive
Ain’t it funny how the time goes by?
First you start believing
Then you’re leaving for no reason
And you’re wondering why
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised if your head hurts
Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Whisper in the ways
Watching days and moving on
You wake up every Monday then suddenly it’s Sunday
And the week is gone
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised at the sunrise
Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Oh, do you wonder where it starts
Where it ends
What you find around the bend
Oh, do you wonder where she’s from
Where she goes
No one knows
Now and then you wonder
Why you’re spending all your money
Ain’t it funny how she walks on by?
She had you all believing
Now she’s leaving for no reason
And you’re wondering why
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised if your heart hurts
Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Oh, do you wonder where it starts
Where it ends
What you find around the bend
And oh, do you wonder where she’s from
Where she goes
No one knows
Now and then
Oh, do you wonder where it starts
Where it ends
What you find around the bend
And do you wonder where she’s from
Where she goes
No one knows
Now and then you wonder
Why life is for the living, the forgiven and the leaving town alive
Life is for the living, the forgiven and the leaving town alive
Lyrics submitted by Joypiter
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I love this song. It's about growing up, and learning as ypu go on with life.
"Oh, do you wonder where it starts Where it ends What you find around the bend"
This is about the innocence and curiosity when your young.
"So 'til the morning breaks go and make your mistakes Don't be surprised at the sunrise"
When you're young, you can make mistakes and learn from them. The sunrise symbolizes a new beginning into adulthood. You can make mistakes, but don't let adulthood sneak up on you when you can no longer those same mistakes.
Great song to listen to when you feel like being alone for a little while just to think, or just to be alone. It makes you want to close your eyes, block eveything else off, make any distractions dissappear and just listen. Listen to the way her voice changes when she goes from verse to chorus or vise-versa. Listen to the way she belts "Oh" s owell it makes you wonder what inspired her, and you really feel like she's singing it TO you. give it a chance. You won't regret it.
Light and lovable song about just living and making it out while still being you and alive.
it made me feel that way too!her voice makes you feel so many things..makes you think about your life and changes you go through!
koolbeckster said it best! I love this song and as I'm about to go off to college it makes me love it more cause now it's personal.