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The Shins — Gone for Good
Album: Chutes Too Narrow
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2206









Released: 2003
Length: 3:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Untie me, I've said no vows
The train is getting way too loud
I've got to leave here, my girl
And get on with my lonely life
Just lay the ring on the rail
For the wheels to nullify

Until this turn in my head
I let you stay and you paid no rent
I spent twelve long months on the lam
That's enough sitting on the fence
For the fear of breaking dams

I find a fatal flaw
In the logic of love
And go out of my head
You love a sinking stone
That will never elope
So get used to the lonesome, girl
You must atone some
Don't leave me no phone number there

It took me all of a year
To put that poisoned pill to your ear
But now I stand on honest ground
You want to fight for this love
But honey, you cannot wrestle a dove
So baby, it's clear

You wanted to jump and dance
But you sat on your hands
And lost your only chance
Go back to your hometown
Get your feet on the ground
And stop floating around

I find a fatal flaw
In the logic of love
And go out of my head
You love a sinking stone
That will never elope
So get used to the lonesome, girl
You must atone some
Don't leave me no phone number there
Comments (196)add comment
 kcar wrote:





?
 kcar wrote:





Check out the late Buddy Emmons's work using pedal steel as a jazz instrument.
Good to hear something besides cuts from Wincing Through the Night, which is an awesome album, btw. I like the lyrics to this song.
 kcar wrote:

Check out Robert Randolph for some excellent pedal steel guitar that's not C&W.



https://www.allmusic.com/artist/robert-randolph-mn0000288350/biography



 

 kcar wrote:
Read the lyrics ... ;D


 

 bobcouch wrote:
No great reason, but I really like this song. I literally tap my foot along to this. 
 

I think its his phrasing that draws me in.
 bobcouch wrote:
No great reason, but I really like this song. I literally tap my foot along to this. 
 

For me, a top 5 breakup song.... for this pseudo-intellectual anyway. 
 k-man wrote:
This album cover reminds me of a couple of Frank Zappa album covers—I wonder if it's the same artist!
 
Probably not, though Jesse is a great graphic designer for sure....http://ledouxville.com/about
Wunderbar sentimental. Für mich einer der besten Shins Songs.
Please allow posting.
No great reason, but I really like this song. I literally tap my foot along to this. 
This album cover reminds me of a couple of Frank Zappa album covers—I wonder if it's the same artist!
 Pristina wrote:


Yum!

 
Brilliant
I hear Rhett Miller singing every time I hear this song. Every time.
well I've learned alot about sheep teeth with this goofy tune thank you : )
 WonderLizard wrote:
Fred, IMHO your comment reflects more on your antipathy to American C&W, well documented I might add, rather than the merits of the song. Then again, a steel guitar might murder any song for you. More's the sadder. It robbed you of "Dire Wolf" as much as "Love Has No Pride." Just a thought, but denying yourself the richness of one song or another because of one instrument, pedal steel guitar, does a disservice to yourself. I used to feel the same way about the bagpipes.


 
FWIW 
Dire Wolf is from Grateful Dead
Love Has No Pride - Linda Rondstat or Bonnie Raitt
I'll add
Your Cheating Heart - Hank Williams
 
Nice song but a memorable one? 
Like most stuff of their's, not really. 
Bill is in a place that suits my mellowness this morning, nice run of songs
 yippee wrote:

sorry, wrong recipient

 
Apology accepted.
 
 kcar wrote:
Well said, although I don't much like C&W much (there's a lotta schlocky, cliched music). But the lap steel and pedal steel guitar make wonderful sounds. It's a criminal shame that they've been shackled to one musical genre. 
 

 
And it was the opening instrument for all Loony Tunes cartoons...
https://youtu.be/7s21gNbCYXk
What a great song to play along with an acoustic guitar, love these guys!
 WonderLizard wrote:
Fred, IMHO your comment reflects more on your antipathy to American C&W, well documented I might add, rather than the merits of the song. Then again, a steel guitar might murder any song for you. More's the sadder. It robbed you of "Dire Wolf" as much as "Love Has No Pride." Just a thought, but denying yourself the richness of one song or another because of one instrument, pedal steel guitar, does a disservice to yourself. I used to feel the same way about the bagpipes.


Well said, although I don't much like C&W much (there's a lotta schlocky, cliched music). But the lap steel and pedal steel guitar make wonderful sounds. It's a criminal shame that they've been shackled to one musical genre. 
 


Love This!
So glad I got to see them do this at Shibuya Club Quattro! What a band; what lyrics, what incredible tunesmanship, wry wit, and verve!
 TerryS wrote:
Lamb Rib Chops

The definitions for lamb, hogget and mutton vary considerably between countries.

In New Zealand, they are defined as follows:

Lamb — a young sheep under 12 months of age which does not have any permanent incisor teeth in wearHogget — a sheep of either sex having no more than two permanent incisors in wearMutton — a female (ewe) or castrated male (wether) sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear

 

Yum!
 yippee wrote:

o f"n please

 
sorry, wrong recipient
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Amen brother!

 
o f"n please
Love everything this band has ever done. They will remain one of my favorites for the rest of my life.
 gandalfbmg wrote:


I LOVE hearing REAL musicians take on the C&W sound. I'm a US midwesterner so I shoudl like that music but the drivel they pass off as country these days is unbearable. I like it when good artists bring a little life back into the mid-american music style.


  Amen brother!


My shins are hurting from listening to this song.
 fredriley wrote:

<snip> what a shame about the steel guitar in the background - Shins and C&W don't mix, IMO. Without the gee-tar this would be an easy 7, with it it's nearly mutable. The usual gnomic Shins lyrics, though: "you can't wrestle a dove" - wtf? 

Fred, IMHO your comment reflects more on your antipathy to American C&W, well documented I might add, rather than the merits of the song. Then again, a steel guitar might murder any song for you. More's the sadder. It robbed you of "Dire Wolf" as much as "Love Has No Pride." Just a thought, but denying yourself the richness of one song or another because of one instrument, pedal steel guitar, does a disservice to yourself. I used to feel the same way about the bagpipes.
Nice reminder of what a good album this is.  I should hunt down the disk among my CDs and rip it to my laptop.
 Baby_M wrote:
He sings that he "spent twelve months on the lam"--wouldn't it have been a full-grown adult sheep by then?  {#Mrgreen}

 
In U.S. terminology, that animal would be considered a "yearling".
Lamb Rib Chops

The definitions for lamb, hogget and mutton vary considerably between countries.

In New Zealand, they are defined as follows:

Lamb — a young sheep under 12 months of age which does not have any permanent incisor teeth in wearHogget — a sheep of either sex having no more than two permanent incisors in wearMutton — a female (ewe) or castrated male (wether) sheep having more than two permanent incisors in wear
Always makes me smile, always takes me back to the joys of discovering the Shins! I heard this first, bought it, then learned they'd done one called Oh, Inverted World...and I was hooked, big-time!  What a great, enigmatic and uplifting band, and thanks and praise to RP!
 Baby_M wrote:
He sings that he "spent twelve months on the lam"--wouldn't it have been a full-grown adult sheep by then?  {#Mrgreen}

 
Hogget.
He sings that he "spent twelve months on the lam"--wouldn't it have been a full-grown adult sheep by then?  {#Mrgreen}
 bill-1956 wrote:
This song rubs me the right way.
 
That's not legal in all states.
This song rubs me the right way.
The Shins will be the musical guest on SNL thiis weekend.  Looking forward to seeing what two songs they perform for us...
I'm liking this Shins tune very much thank you! Sealed
 kdavistcb wrote:
As for me - I'm lovin' the steel guitar in the background. Reminds me a little of My Favorite Band.
 
the steel was a nice follow up to the Jangly Jayhawks

okay someone loses a Jules Shear CD boxset in an Albuquerque trailer park about 1985 and a young James Mercer...
As for me - I'm lovin' the steel guitar in the background. Reminds me a little of My Favorite Band.
GORGEOUS AGAIN!
 fredriley wrote:
 The usual gnomic Shins lyrics...
 

Here I thought they were protecting my garden, now I find out they've been writing lyrics for The Shins!
i simply adore this song! always a treat to hear!
 marksda wrote:
I love this band.

This song is cool because it has a country sound to it, but it's better.
 
Agree!!

I love this band.

This song is cool because it has a country sound to it, but it's better.

The Shins by ~Jupifang
©2007-2010 ~Jupifang

The Shins - 5th of April 2007- Paradiso Amsterdam


 fredriley wrote:

Same here, but what a shame about the steel guitar in the background - Shins and C&W don't mix, IMO. Without the gee-tar this would be an easy 7, with it it's nearly mutable. The usual gnomic Shins lyrics, though: "you can't wrestle a dove" - wtf?

 

I LOVE hearing REAL musicians take on the C&W sound. I'm a US midwesterner so I shoudl like that music but the drivel they pass off as country these days is unbearable. I like it when good artists bring a little life back into the mid-american music style.

And I actually think the lyrics on this are about as straighforward as you're going to get out of the Shins (maybe that's why it's in a more 'earthly' musical style compared to their other stuff?); it's about how he's been living with/in a relationship with someone but he realizes it's not going anywhere/is codependent/etc., and his forcing them to move out and let go of him, because he's over it, and they need to get their act together. etc. etc... "you wanna fight for this love, but you cannot wrestle a dove" means that "love" and "fight" are diametricall oppossed and have no business being together, if you *have* to fight, it's not really love...

Not saying I agree with the viewpoint of the singer here, but I think his message isn't all that gnomic.

Love this song.
 Susan_Ssun wrote:
Really like the harmonies. 
 
Same here, but what a shame about the steel guitar in the background - Shins and C&W don't mix, IMO. Without the gee-tar this would be an easy 7, with it it's nearly mutable. The usual gnomic Shins lyrics, though: "you can't wrestle a dove" - wtf?

 Susan_Ssun wrote:
Really like the harmonies.  Reminds me of the 80's band The Proclaimers.
 
Yes!  I heard recently the Shins will be back.  Thank goodness!


Really like the harmonies.  Reminds me of the 80's band The Proclaimers.
 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
What ever happened to these guys? They need another album, lest they become a mid-2000s anomaly...
 
https://pitchfork.com/news/36632-the-shins-james-mercer-and-danger-mouse-team-up-for-new-band/

With maybe only a couple of exceptions, no modern band can match The Shins for melody.


 alaken wrote:
Wow, great song. Love the vocal harmonies! {#Music}
 
Very odd harmonies in the chorus, but I like them! Works for me.
What ever happened to these guys? They need another album, lest they become a mid-2000s anomaly...
 rdo wrote:
I see a lot in common between the Shins and Gomez, taking other, older music genres and making them quite new. 
 
Nice observation.  I might add this song continues another killer set.  Many Thanks!

Live at Lollapalooza '07, good times. :)

 scott4261 wrote:
This is a fantastic album! I wish RP would play "Kissing the Lipless" every now and then...

 

Agreed on both counts
holborne wrote:


And again please
Agreed on both counts.

I see a lot in common between the Shins and Gomez, taking other, older music genres and making them quite new. 
GREAT ALBUM
Wow, great song. Love the vocal harmonies! {#Music}
What a fabulous, understated song.  This is why I love the Shins.

YEE HAW!
Good and Y' Alternative!!!

Wouldn't this be great on a radio station that won't play it because it's to country.
Or a station that won't play it because it's to rock?

Wait!
It's here on Paradise!

Thanks Bill!

great song from a great album.
Yes, catchy.  Has me reaching for similar tunes....    Eyes wide open?
Embarrassingly catchy.
Did this songwriter listen to Porcupine Tree's Lightbulb Sun release?
 scott4261 wrote:
This is a fantastic album! I wish RP would play "Kissing the Lipless" every now and then...

 

Agreed on both counts.
This is a fantastic album! I wish RP would play "Kissing the Lipless" every now and then...

Love the vocal harmony.

I have an abnormal fondness for this band.
i'm going to have get all of the shins... quality
99 wrote:
The transition from the Jayhawks to the Shins deserves a 10. Nice job, Bill.
Don't you love it when a dj makes a connection for you? I honestly thought this was Jayhawks side-project - and I already know this cd!
meydele wrote:
Could not love it more.
I'm with you. Best.
Reminds me that I haven't heard enough Jayhawks lately. Pretty good tune.
A good snort of Afrin ought to clear up that nasal congestion.
more from this album, I request ~yoda their best, I think it is
Man, what great music today! Shins, Pete Yorn, Wilco, Luna...it's like Bill is going through my own music collection. Keep up the great work!
AlienRelic wrote:
I have a pet dove. You can wrestle a dove. In fact, sometimes you have to....
This is my favourite song comment ever.
I have a pet dove. You can wrestle a dove. In fact, sometimes you have to....
I thought it was back-to-back Jayhawks.
" ...you just can't wrestle a dove..." Lyrical structure: F
Sounding so much like several others serves to make this group--at least per this song--unmemorable.
Every time this song comes on, I think it's "Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day" by Doug Sahm.
lmic wrote:
Fave song, fave album Bill plays by the Shins! Is this their best CD?
I think it is.
Fave song, fave album Bill plays by the Shins! Is this their best CD?
Rickvee wrote:
The Shins = melody masters Love this song as I do all of their material.
Could not love it more.
twothingsatonce wrote:
This song grabs my attention and starts my toe tapping and head bobbing every time.
Nicely said, same here :)
The tentative title for this song was "A call to apathy", which might be another clue to the meaning of the lyrics mayhaps?
The Shins = melody masters Love this song as I do all of their material.
99 wrote:
The transition from the Jayhawks to the Shins deserves a 10. Nice job, Bill.
Hmm. Rating sets/transitions could be interesting, but a lot more data to track.
The transition from the Jayhawks to the Shins deserves a 10. Nice job, Bill.
I am starting to really notice this guy's voice which means Shins music, but like I noted on another of their RP pages, their effort to sounds different each time is praiseworthy. Rock on, Shins!
This song grabs my attention and starts my toe tapping and head bobbing every time.
Love the Shins! I have to admit, i discovered them thanks to The Garden State Soundtrack, but then promptly went out and bought this album, and immediately fell in love. This is one of my favorite tracks- every time I feel depressed about being single, I give this tune a spin.... thanks!
Can't think of a better example of how something can grow on you than this one...and the whole recording, really. Liked it at first, and LOVE IT now and probably will forever. Their lyrics speak volumes to me, and something about the delivery, quirky at times, and tunesmanship, talented but unorthodox, that just transcends it for me...Go, Shins, take it from 'Kerky to the whole wide world!
These guys are just really good, plain and simple.
flyfree wrote:
"leave the ring on the rail, for the wheels to nullify." !!!!!
my favorite line
The best line in it is "Lah De Dah"....I think...
huebdoo wrote: Wow... These lyrics are perfect in capturing the emotion of a hellish relationship and the regret of letting it slide into the abiss. agreed. i've been through it and boy does this remind me of all the places i never want to be again. i love the honesty.
mrrmt wrote:
why are we constantly falling in love with these guys who won't commit?? great song. painful message....ouch.
My answer to most problems... NUKE 'EM!
PacificNWPariah wrote:
Great band, great song!
Let me guess, given your location, you were probably taken off the government's anti-terrorist funding list, right? P.S. the song is great....
TBD wrote:
decent music ... terrible singer ... marginal lyrics. rates a 2 with me.
You must be a real hardcore music snob. I mean if you give the shins a 2, what would you rate a 10?
Great band, great song!
I hear it as sort of a parody of country western with the cheesy lap steel... I love it on that level
Such a good song!
Love the lyrics this is my favorite song on this Shins album "I find a fatal flaw in the logic of love and go out of my mind" ...indeed!
"You wanna fight for this love, but honey you cannot wrestle a dove..."
highwindows wrote:
You heard Elvis Costello?
Excellent!
somebody please bury this band.
decent music ... terrible singer ... marginal lyrics. rates a 2 with me.
leave the ring on the rail, for the wheels to nullify...
Wow... These lyrics are perfect in capturing the emotion of a hellish relationship and the regret of letting it slide into the abiss. Not something you want to listen to dinner music on a first date or when you bring home your first child. But fantastic for those moments where you are ready to scream and tear someone elses hair out. Welll done RP for this
this song breaks my heart, but i love it.
Nice melody, but the adenoidal voice kinda ruins it for me.
Nice sound to start my day off with!