I loved this song when I first heard it by the excellent band
The Horseflies. I was really excited that Natalie Merchant liked it enough to cover it a few years later. Her incredible voice more than does the song justice - it illuminates the story. Vague as it might be, when I hear this song, I imagine Jakarta and Argentina...
Joining Natalie on this Letterman performance is Horsefly members Judy Hyman on violin and at least one other member of the band, though I'm not sure which.
"The Horse Flies combine musical and lyrical quirkiness with beguiling wit and intelligence … a melange of rock, folk, and minimalism … music that challenges the brain without sacrificing the groove." (Chicago Tribune).