A Service of Saddleback College and
California State University, Northridge

Yo La Tengo Covers The Byrds’ Song 'Wasn’t Born To Follow'

The Indie-rock band is getting ready to release yet another EP, this time an EP comprised of covers, titled Sleepless Night.

A little over a month ago, they launched their last EP, We Have Amnesia Sometimes by releasing a new song every week until the EP was released to completion. This new EP may or may not find a similar release style, but with the release date being around the corner, fans are waiting for more.

Sleepless Night is out October 9 via Matador.

Yo La Tengo first shares their cover of “Wasn’t Born To Follow,” by the Byrds. Band guitarist and vocalist, Ira Kaplan says his first experience with the original song was when he was just a kid. 

“I’m sure I heard the Byrds’ song for the first time when my mom took me and a bunch of my friends to see Easy Rider. (One kid was forbidden by his parents from joining us, as was my younger brother. My dad took my brother to see Butch Cassidy instead, and I’m guessing my friend stayed home and did homework.) 'Wasn’t Born to Follow' was recorded by Gene Holder as part of the sessions that resulted in Stuff Like That There. Dave Schramm on lead guitar.”

The upcoming EP will feature five covers and one new original song. The tracklisting goes as follows: 

01 “Blues Stay Away” (Delmore Brothers Cover)

02 “Wasn’t Born To Follow” (The Byrds Cover)

03 “Roll On Babe” (Ronnie Lane Cover)

04 “It Takes A Lot To Laugh” (Bob Dylan Cover)

05 “Bleeding”

06 “Smile A Little Smile For Me” (The Flying Machine Cover)

Initially, the songs were part of a limited-edition catalog for a Los Angeles Country Museum Of Art retrospective of the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, who helped pick out the songs for them to cover. He also provided the album cover art.

Yo La Tengo - Wasn't Born To Follow

Share: