Monday April April 26, 2021 “They Don’t Know” Pete Yorn

Let’s do another week of unexpected cover songs.

 We did “They Don’t Know” by Tracey Ullman recently (remember Paul McCartney turned up in the end) which was in itself a cover of the original by Kristy MacColl but this Pete Yorn version fits the bill of just being unexpected.

 I am always intrigued by artists who record songs that you would not imagine them to be familiar with or even like.  I’m thinking Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam who recorded the teen angst ballad “Last Kiss”.  And Yorn’s selection of this tune is in that same vein.

 Pete Yorn just released his ninth album/CD, Pete Yorn Sings the Classics  which not only includes “They Don’t Know” but also unusual selections like the Beach Boys “Surfer Girl”, Dylan’s “Lay, Lady Lay” and Roxy Music’s “More Than This” among others.  They’re all worth a listen.

 A retold story has Pete Yorn playing a solo, small venue concert for a local Westchester radio station a few years back. When he arrived he sat at the bar, ordered a beer and struck up a conversation with a young woman seated there.  He asked her what she thought of the guy who was playing there that night and she responded enthusiastically that she loved all of his music and was a big fan.

 When challenged about her favorite  Pete Yorn tunes, she knew his songs and rattled them off.  As he paused, confused for a minute one of the radio stations DJ’s welcomed him and said “Hey Pete, we’re ready for a sound check.”  The lady at the bar was dumbfounded and apparently her only comment was, “Holy shit, you’re Pete Yorn!!”  To which he responded, “Yeah, I know.”

 For those Jerseyites, Pete Yorn is from Pompton Plains.

 Stay safe and well...and enjoy cover number one for the week.

You've been around for such a long time now,

And maybe I could leave you, but I don't know how.

And why should I be lonely every night,

When I could be with you, oh yes you make it right.

So I don't listen to the boys who say,

That you're bad for me and I should turn you away.

Cause they don't know about us, they've never heard of love.

I get a feeling when I look at you,

Wherever you go now, I wanna' be there too.

They say we're crazy, but I just don't care,

And if they keep on talking, still they'll get nowhere.

So I don't mind if they don't understand,

When I look at you and you hold my hand.

Cause they don't know about us, they've never heard of love.

Why should it matter to us if they don't approve?

We should just take our chances what if we've got nothing to lose?

Baby, there's no need for living in the past,

Cause now I found good lovin', gonna' make it last.

I tell the others, "don't bother me",

Cause when I look at you, they don't see what I see.

And I don't listen to their wasted lines,

Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs.

Cause they don't know about us, they've never heard of love.

So I don't listened to their wasted lines,

Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs.

Cause they don't know about us, they've never heard of love