Back to Yo La Tengo Homepage

Thanks to the many folks who have written in with corrections. Please email me with any further corrections or additional lyrics.

Fakebook
 

1. Can't Forget
2. Griselda
3. Here Comes My Baby
4. Barnaby, Hardly Working
5. Yellow Sarong
6. You Tore Me Down
7. Emulsified
8. Speeding Motorcycle
9. Tried So Hard
10. The Summer
11. Oklahoma, U.S.A.
12. What Comes Next
13. The One To Cry
14. Andalucia
15. Did I Tell You
16. What Can I Say

"I Can't Forget" (Yo La Tengo)

Seems like falling down
Or away, lost at sea
Or the one that's left behind
Or away, of you and me
Maybe I know that
Maybe it's better
But I can't forget the time
I know where I am
Every day, every night
Like the one who knows too much
Trusts the same old thing
Maybe I know that
Maybe it's better
But I can't forget the time
Realising nothing
I remember when
Maybe I know that
Maybe it's better
But I can't forget the time
Maybe I know that
Maybe it's better
Maybe it's nothing
But I can't forget the time

Back to Top
 
"Griselda" (Peter Stampfel)

Come won't you walk with me Griselda
Wearing the dress that moonlight shines through
I'm a sad and lonely boy
Since your mother said I couldn't see you
Slip into the wood in the dark of the night
Calling to the moon out yonder
Oh lady moon won't you shine a silver light
And lead me to my Griselda
Do you recall last night Griselda
Learning the lessons nature taught us
Watching the fish jump in the lake
It was lovely 'til your mother caught us
Slip into the wood in the dark of the night
Calling to the moon out yonder
Oh lady moon won't you shine a silver light
And lead me to my Griselda
These flower vines upon the window
Give me a foothold for my climbing
I've got a rowboat on the lake
Fish are out and all the stars are shining
Slip into the wood in the dark of the night
Calling to the moon out yonder
Oh lady moon won't you shine a silver light
And lead me to my Griselda
I've got a jug of wine Griselda
Why must you waste your time in sorrow
Hold out your hand, have no fear
If we're caught I'll marry you tomorrow
Slip into the wood in the dark of the night
Calling to the moon out yonder
Oh lady moon won't you shine a silver light
And lead me to my Griselda

Back to Top

  "Here Comes My Baby" (Cat Stevens)

In the midnight moonlight hour
She's walking along that lonely mile
And everytime I do
I keep seeing these pictures of you
Here comes my baby
Here she comes now
And now it comes as no surprise to me
With another guy
Here comes my baby
Here she comes now
Walking with a love, with a love that's oh so fine
Never to be mine
No matter how I try
You never walk alone
And you're forever talking on the phone
I try to call you names
But everytime it comes out the same
Here comes my baby
Here she comes now
And now it comes as no surprise to me
With another guy
Here comes my baby
Here she comes now
Walking with a love, with a love that's oh so fine
Never to be mine
No matter how I try

Back to Top

  "Barnaby, Hardly Working" (Yo La Tengo)

For the moment slipped right through him
Combed his hair, combed his hair
Knew the feeling of contentment
The actors' actor
The actors' actor
Smiled a smile uncomprehending
I took his time, took his time
Wore a hat, so he'd impress her
They took a ride
They took a ride
As I could wait for hours
I could wait and never fall down
Never fall down
Never fall down
He is down beside the river
He is down beside the river
He is down beside the river
He is down beside the river

Back to Top

"Yellow Sarong" (The Scene Is Now)

A man in the moon
Taps at the window
How do we know your silhouette
How will we reach you
Waving his hands
Shouting
Is there any more to that yellow sarong
It's more than just a bit of grass
What a landscape, what a landscape
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
A man in the moon
Taps at the window
How will we know your silhouette
How will we reach you
How will we reach you
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Back to Top

"You Tore Me Down" (Originally by the Flamin' Groovies. Written by Jordan/Wilson)

Everybody knows
That you've been untrue
You've gone and broke my heart
And made me blue
Turned my head around
Then you tore me down
If I had a choice
I'd not be sad
'Cause when I hear your voice
It makes me mad
Baby's not around
But she's leaving town
Baby, baby
Don't run away
I want you to stay
I'm sorry
So sorry
I made you blue
And now you should be sorry too
Should be sorry too
Now I'm so alone
You're far away
I sit here at home
No words to say
To anyone around
'Cause you tore me down
Tore me down
Tore me down
Tore me down

Back to Top

"Emulsified" (Rex Gravin & the Mighty Cravers)

Well oh yeah, do you know how to be emulsified now?
(No)
I'm gonna tell you a little story about being emulsified
(Now? Yes please!)
It goes something like this....
(Alright! Yeah!)
My baby's a real gone chick
(Emulsified)
When she calls me _______ so quick
(Emulsified)
When my baby holds me tight
Don't you know I get emulsified
(Oh yeah)
Yes I do
(Oh yeah)
Yes, it's true
(Emulsified)
Waaaaaaaah yeah!!
(Emulsified)
I'm going crazy 'cause I love my baby's soul
(Emulsified)
Never, never would I let her go
(Emulsified)
She squeezes me when she holds me tight
Don't you know I get emulsified
(Oh yeah)
Yes I do
(Oh yeah)
Yes, it's true
(Emulsified)
Yeah!!
I would go for you baby
And I would tell all the world that I do, ooooh!
Please, please, please baby I don't want nobody but you
(Emulsified)
Come back baby give me one more chance!
(Emulsified)
I want to make up a real romance
(Emulsified)
Squeeze me and hold me tight
(Don't you know I get emulsified)
And um um um um
(Oh yeah)
Everyday
(Oh yeah)
In the old way
(Emulsified)
I'm going crazy 'cause I love her so
(Emulsified)
Never, never, never would I let her go
(Emulsified)
Oh she squeezes me and she holds me tight
(Don't you know I get emulsified)
(Oh yeah)
Everyday!
(Oh yeah)
In the old way
(Emulsified)
Oh yeah
On Monday
(Emulsified)
Emulsified on Tuesday
(Emulsified)
(Emulsified)
(Emulsified)

Back to Top

"Speeding Motorcycle" (Daniel Johnston)

Speeding motorcycle,
Won't you change me?
In a world of funny changes,
Speeding motorcycle,
Won't you change me?
Speeding motorcycle, of my heart
Speeding motorcycle, always changing me
Speeding motorcycle, don't you drive recklessly
Speeding motorcycle, of my heart
Many girls have taken you out for a ride
Hurt in deep inside
But you never slow down
Speeding motorcycle, of my heart
Speeding motorcycle, let's be smart
Because we don't wanna wreck
We can do a lot of tricks
We don't have to break our necks
To get our kicks
Speeding motorcycle, the road is ours
Speeding motorcycle, let's speed some more
And 'cause we don't need reason and we don't need logic
'Cause we've got feeling and we're damn proud of it
Speeding motorcycle, there's nothing you can do
Speeding motorcycle, I love you
Speeding motorcycle, let's just go
Speeding motorcycle, let's go, let's go, let's go

Back to Top

"Tried So Hard" (Originally by the Flying Buritto Brothers. Written by Gene Clark)

Stopped awhile this morning on my way back home
I had to realize this time that I'd be all alone
Cause she is moving somewhere far away not slow
And though I tried so hard to please her
She said she really had to go
Even though this time it really hurts me bad
I've been through similarities it's not the first break I've had
And I just can't let it bring me down too low
And though I tried so hard to please her
There must be something more to know
Never thought that we would find our end this way
It seemed that everything was going fine
Still with all the things that I can do or say
It won't change the fate I know so well is mine
So I'll stop and look right past the pain
Cause I've been in love before and I can love again
While she's moving somewhere far away not slow
And though I tried so hard to please her
She said she really had to go

Back to Top

"The Summer" (Yo La Tengo)

On darkened streets tonight
I see a simple time
I see the warning light
When the summer comes undone
No sorry closing eyes
No cutting down to size
No other thoughts arise
When the summer comes undone
On darkened streets tonight
I make a wrong turn right
Take in the lonely side
When the summer comes undone
I won't wait
I won't have to
I just waste my time alone
'Til the summer comes undone
'Til the summer comes undone
'Til the summer comes undone

Back to Top

"Oklahoma, U.S.A." (Originally by The Kinks. Written by Ray Davies)

All life we work but work is bore,
If life's for livin' what's livin' for?
She lives in a house that's near decay,
Built for the industrial revolution,
But in her dreams she is far away, far away
In Oklahoma U.S.A.
With Shirley Jones and Gordon McRea,
As she buys her papers at the cornershop,
She's walkin' on the surrey with the fringe on top,
Cos in her dreams she is faraway, far away
In Oklahoma U.S.A.,
She walks to work but she's still in a daze,
She's Rita Hayworth or Doris Day,
And Errol Flynn wants to take her away,
To Oklahoma U.S.A.
All life we work but work is a bore,
If life's for livin', what's livin' for?

Back to Top

"What Comes Next" (Yo La Tengo)

Talking back before the ________
Taking back the last thing that I said
And it made me wonder
Made me wonder just where I went wrong
On a lazy drive, I don't know where
Didn't even care if I got home
And it made me wonder
Made me wonder how I got back home
Time won't wait for you
I'll wait for you always
Some things should never change
And it made me wonder
Made me wonder just what happened next

Back to Top

"The One To Cry" (The Escorts)

Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
I told you if I ever caught you fooling 'round again
That if you were untrue,
That you and I were through,
But now I've caught you and I know that this should be the end
Though I should tell you so
My heart keeps saying no
Oh if I say goodbye
Then I am gonna be the one to cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Oh I can't bear to be the one to keep you from my side
How could you be so cruel?
You played me for a fool
But if I change my mind then I will throw away my pride
So now what should I do?
Oh how I wish I knew
Oh if I say goodbye then I am gonna be the one to cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
So now what should I do?
Oh how I wish I knew
Oh if I say goodbye then I am gonna be the one to cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry

Back to Top

"Andalucia" (John Cale)

Andalucia,
When can I see you?
And it's snowing out again
Father John wants you
Louder and softer
Closer, nearer then again
Needing you
Taking you
Keeping you
Leaving you
A year and a day to be sure
But your face doesn't alter
Your words never falter
I love you
I'll be there waiting
Later and later
Hoping the night will come again
Andalucia, castles and Christians
Andalucia, come to stay
You were lost
Once before
On a day much like this
When you made up your mind not to come
And I couldnt persuade you away 'til tomorrow
Or past the tunnel

Back to Top

"Did I Tell You" (Yo La Tengo)

Did I tell you of the dark lonely road
I was counting my steps as I made my way home
Days of nothing but time on your hands, weighing on me
Can't deny it, undecided
Whether to count what I felt against what I could say

I try not to wonder, or tell you that I'm not willing to wait
'Cause deep in my heart I'm willing, heart's still willing
Brain's impatient, my heart's still willing to wait.

Our love is so important to me
Starts wherever you land, walks right over to me
Days of nothing but time in between, I'll be asleep
So unwary or uncaring
I try not to be part of that, well, that's easy to say

I try not to wonder, or tell you that I'm not willing to wait
'Cause deep in my heart I'm willing, heart's still willing
Brain's impatient, my heart's still willing to wait.

There's a moment to discover no one can take all the blame
and it's finally clear.

I try not to wonder, or tell you that I'm not willing to wait
'Cause deep in my heart I'm willing, heart's still willing
Brain's impatient, my heart's still willing to wait,
willing to wait, willing to wait

Back to Top

"What Can I Say" (NRBQ)

When we're alone here
Just me and you
Why did you tell me
You love me too?
And when I hold you
You turn away
I just don't know you
What can I say?
I don't know why
You run and hide
I don't know what
You feel inside
I try to tell you
In every way
I just don't know you
What can I say?
I don't know why
You run and hide
I don't know what
You feel inside
I try to tell you
In every way
I just don't know you
What can I say?
I just don't know you
What can I say?

Back to Top