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,
Ten miles I've walked today
Along the shore
I saw your ghost again
The seasoning and the birds gather to go
And I laid down on the top of a cliff
Confessed my sins into the wind
And the sky lay a feather in my mouth
in my mouth
Good lord it was a beautiful day
For untangling, unraveling my heavy heart away
To forgive and forget myself
and my enemies, my bruises washed away
Today, was the day, I first said
"I belong."
belong
Here in the ghost region
All alone upon the shore
This changing line between land and sea, oh
Between a cease-fire and a war
And down by the foot of the cliff
Where I gathered shells and watched the swells
Blossom up around my feet
I saw the ribcage of some wreck on the rocks
oh. what a tragic cost, for getting lost,
when you just can't find the light through this fog
But today, was the day, I first said
"I belong. I belong."
Here in the ghost region
All alone upon the shore
This changing line between land and sea, oh
Between a cease-fire and a war
Between a cease-fire and a war
It's a war... It's some beautiful war
Along the shore
I saw your ghost again
The seasoning and the birds gather to go
And I laid down on the top of a cliff
Confessed my sins into the wind
And the sky lay a feather in my mouth
in my mouth
Good lord it was a beautiful day
For untangling, unraveling my heavy heart away
To forgive and forget myself
and my enemies, my bruises washed away
Today, was the day, I first said
"I belong."
belong
Here in the ghost region
All alone upon the shore
This changing line between land and sea, oh
Between a cease-fire and a war
And down by the foot of the cliff
Where I gathered shells and watched the swells
Blossom up around my feet
I saw the ribcage of some wreck on the rocks
oh. what a tragic cost, for getting lost,
when you just can't find the light through this fog
But today, was the day, I first said
"I belong. I belong."
Here in the ghost region
All alone upon the shore
This changing line between land and sea, oh
Between a cease-fire and a war
Between a cease-fire and a war
It's a war... It's some beautiful war
Lyrics submitted by JimmieNeverDies
Godrevy Point Lyrics as written by Patrick Wolf
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
i love this song, especially the acoustic session.
"It's a wild stretch of land Such a sad place to be When the night comes heavy down And the sand turns to sea Many saints have lost their love Many a-pilgrim died unseen In that wild stretch of land In that fire to be free"
this is actual part of 'the towans' and it is at the very very end of wind in the wires. i love hearing his live music because he usually adds it on to his songs.
beautiful!
The live recordings of this are so raw, you can taste the richness of his voice in the back of your throat.
Especially on the XFM version when he sings The Towans, it stretches my heart.
This is one of my very favorite p-wolf songs. The growl at the end sets me on fire and also unsettles me. His voice has such a physical effect on the listener.
This is a beautiful song. I have been to Godrevy Point and Wolf describes it perfectly.
lovley.. x
I love this song. I imagine it as if someone has to (or is just about to) make a very difficult desicion. It's the kind of song where you have to be along, to have time to think things over. And I love the way that makes me feel.
"I imagine it as if someone has to (or is just about to) make a very difficult desicion"
Should ofcourse be "as if someone has.."
I love this song. I came back here to look up the lyrics while listening to it again and low and behold I was the one that had submitted them.
This song means so much for me too, especially the line; "Today is the day i first said 'I belong." I stood in the front row of one of his shows screaming every word. He stared at me as if he couldn't belive something he made could mean so much to a stranger.
I think the lyrics are
"I saw your ghost again The season end and the birds gather to go"
To me, the song is about forgiveness, about moving on and maybe about being free at last. The lyrics are among the most beautiful poetry I know.