Additional R.E.M. lyrics
last revised 4/20/95
@SONG: REVOLUTION
(performed during '95 Monster tour)
your revolution is a silly idea, yeah
all your friends are feeling had
it's like you need a reason to be feeling bad
you sport an armband when your good and mad
la la la la revolution (the future never happened)
i don't know why i'm feeling bad, yeah
i picked up a bad vibration
oliver north is running for senate
bomb the abortion clinic
reagan's defense is the deficit
the virus was invented
black man can't get acquited
of the crimes that we committed
the future never happened, it never happened
la la la la revolution (the future never happened)
your revolution is a silly idea, yeah
you tried to look like a punk rocker
a whole lotta sneer, and little curl
i don't have time for your theatrics
everybody knows that you're a bad actress
i don't know why i'm feeling bad, yeah
but a scum is rising
la la la la revolution (the future never happened)
@SONG: FRETLESS
(from the "Out of Time" sessions and originally scheduled for that album;
later appeared on the soundtrack to "Until the End of the World")
He's got his work and she comes easy
They each come around when the other is gone
Me, I think I got stuck somewhere in between
I wouldn't confide in the Prodigal Son
The die has been cast, the battle is won
The bullets were blanks, a double aught gun
I couldn't admit to a minute of fun
They come and they come and they come and they come
I accepted with a gentle tongue
No words spoken, no need to speak
Take it, stomp twice, ring the bell
Tether that ring and phrase
Enough with the rifle and talk already
We all know what it means
Take this conversation to your great divide
I can only swallow what I ate
And I don't hate him
And I don't hate her
They come and they come and they come and they come
I accepted with a gentle tongue
No heart broken, no need to speak
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
Reach for each other before you leave
Reach peace with an E-A-C
Don't threaten me with a gentle tease
Don't threaten me with angry
Please, please, please
Don't try to tell me what I am
(Talk to me)
Don't talk to me
(Talk to me)
Don't talk to me
@SONG: IT'S A FREE WORLD BABY
(an "Out of Time" outtake, later release as an import B-side for "Drive."
Later released on the _Coneheads_ soundtrack.)
I was hungry when I said
I never got to sleep
You go ahead
You can get whatever you want
There's a feeling in my belly
It's the new tomorrow scene
It's an interesting job
It's the fireworks
CHORUS
I don't need it (I don't need it)
I hit my head (he hit his head)
I can't feel anything
You gave too much away
You came to say
It's a free world baby
And you gave too much away
(get whatever you want)
Me, I'm tired of this candy
My teeth ache my head
Boys in bed, girls in bed
All now go to sleep
Sleep, sweet dreams
Wake to a new today tomorrow
CHORUS
Boys in bed, girls in bed
All now go to sleep
Sleep, sweet dreams
Wake to a new today tomorrow
Sleep, sweet dreams
Wake to a new today tomorrow
CHORUS
(repeat last verse)
@SONG: PHOTOGRAPH
(co-written & performed w/ Natalie Merchant,
>from "Born To Choose" - 1993, various-artists)
I found this photograph,
underneath the broken picture glass.
Tender face of black and white,
Beautiful, a haunting sight.
Looked into an angel's smile,
captivated all the while.
>From the hair and clothes she wore,
I'd place her in between the wars.
Was she willing when she sat
and posed the pretty photograph?
Save her flowering and fair,
the days to come, the days to share.
A big smile for the camera,
how did she know?
the moment could be lost forever
forever more
I found this photograph,
stashed between the old joist walls,
in a place where time is lost,
lost behind, where all things fall.
Broken books and calendars,
letters script in careful hand,
music too, a standard tune by
some forgotten big brass band.
>From the threshhold what's to see
of our brave new century?
The television's just a dream,
the radio, the silver screen.
A big smile for the camera,
how did she know?
the moment could be lost forever
forever more
Was her childhood filled with rhymes,
stolen hooks, impassioned crimes?
Was she innocent or blind
to the cruelty of her time?
Was she fearful in her day,
was she hopeful, did she pray?
Were there skeletons inside,
family secrets, sworn to hide?
Did she feel the beat that stirs,
the fall from grace of wayward girls?
Was she tempted to pretend,
the love and laughter, 'til the end?
@SONG: PSA (a.k.a. BAD DAY)
(unreleased studio demo from "Life's Rich Pageant" sessions)
A public service announcement followed me home the other day,
I bade it nevermind, go away.
The shit's so thick, you could stir it with a stick,
the paper wouldn't lie, wisdom got lost to mankind, we gloat and jeer with it
Broadcast me a joyful noise into the times, Lord,
count your blessings, ignore the lowest fear, well you can't send us, listen,
Radio no, play the game, three words, first one short,
magazine, book, cinema, N - O - down,
many fears are gone, step down, step down,
watch a heel crush, ah this means war
I saw the light, it can't be right
Broadcast me a joyful noise into the times, Lord,
count your blessings, ignore the lowest fear, well you can't send us,
It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please
It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please
A public service announcement followed me home the other day,
I bade it nevermind,
The shit's so thick, you could stir it with a stick,
the paper wouldn't lie, wisdom got lost to mankind, we gloat and jeer with it
Broadcast me a joyful noise into the times, Lord,
count your blessings, ignore the lowest fear, come one, what more?
It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please
It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please
@SONG: THEME FROM TWO STEPS ONWARD
(unreleased studio demo from Fables or LRP sessions)
If you hear this...look again
Don't be a stranger
Don't be a shadow to this boy
A penny on it's side
Write a letter...give a call
Let me know you're alive
And doing well
A quarter past three
The quarter you live in haunts my eyes
I'm hand over head
I'm held over hand
I'm hand over head over heels over you
Write a letter, give a call
Let me know you're alive
And doing well
It's everything for two
Don't be a stranger
Don't be a shadow to this boy
A quarter past three
A quarter past...
The quarter you live in haunts my eyes
I'm hand over head
I'm held over hand
I'm hand over head over heels over you
Write a letter...give a call
Let me know you're alive
And doing well
It's everything for two
Don't be a stranger
Don't be a shadow to this boy
I'll give you a kiss
I'll give you a hug
I'll tell you a secret that's no lie
Don't be a stranger
Don't be a shadow
Don't be a shadow to this boy
@SONG: TAINTED OBLIGATION
(author unknown - performed by the Community Trolls, a.k.a. Michael
Stipe and Mathew Sweet)
I saw the shoals at night, with the moon above.
I felt an obligation, and heard your voice again.
If you were here once, you were here a hundred times.
If I reached out tonight, I found I couldn't fight it.
If you were here once, you were here a hundred times.
Ohhhhhh
Best as a wishing star, I saw you better far away,
and I felt obligation, and heard your voice again.
Hear the rush of water, passing over the shoals.
Hear my heartbeat rather, if I reached out tonight.
If I reach out tonight and find I can't fight it,
and look to the stars, and wander towards a
heartfelt obligation, a place that you called home
and heard your voice again, but it's too late.
You left long ago, and now you're probably dead and gone,
and I'm left here with the water and the shoals and a tainted obligation.
Ohhhhhh
@SONG: ROMANCE
(early song, included on "Eponymous")
Nations call
Par-parallels
Neighbors call
All in all in all in all in all
That's worth saving up for
Put our heads down on the chest
Mustn't even race for rest
Easy come, easy go
Easy come
Easy go
Easy come
Easy go
Stares conceal
Par-parallels
Neigh-neighbors call
All in all in all in all in all
That's worth saving up for
Put our heads down on the chest
Mustn't even race for rest
Easy come, easy go
Easy come
Easy go
Easy come
Easy go
Chance is yours
And call the shot
Even in a parking lot
With one romance
One romance
Easy come
Easy go
Easy come
Easy go
Neighbors call
Par-parallel
Late at night nations fall
All in all in all in all in all
That's worth saving up for
Put our heads down on the chest
Mustn't even race for rest
Easy come, easy go
Easy come
Easy go
Easy come
Easy go
@SONG: CHANCE
(from UK "Everybody Hurts" CD single)
Chance, chance, chance, chance
Friday bank card yours got stuck
I loaned you a phone quarter, said "Good luck"
Where are you now?
Me and glasses Saturday slump
You and your shopping, I looked up
Our eyes met, mine are green
You'd had a peroxide thing
Call now, look me up
Sunday walk, Weaver's Park,
I was on the lakeside
Where the playgrounds meet
In bare feet
You said, "Mighty cold today"
You never see what I think
You didn't like your daytime job
I was born to travel
You were a camera, I dropped my keys
I'm on the northbound, you were asleep
I said, "Are you holding?"
"You wanna ride the silent sky?"
I wrote a story on the fly
You in the tabletop
I said, "I've had enough of the city."
I held a bag of apples
You at the last table
I had had a soy dog
Cafe streetside, Tuesday bloom
You wanna be on fire, I said I hung the moon
Wednesday grocery, corner of Vine,
You were in the checkout line
I dropped my frozen dinners, you helped pick them up
Thursday cab rush, our block,
You with broken accent, my heart stopped
You laughed, I worry
Chance, chance, chance, chance
Swarming like a dozen crushing blows
All those glances, midtime dances
Chance
I never looked it up
You hit the sidewalk talking
Said, "I'd read the ads"
Do you?
Where are you? Will you read this? Can I see?
This is surely moving faster than I can think
A minute shy, a passing eye
I know I saw you there
Will you read this? Can I see? What did I see?
Chance, chance, chance, chance
Swimming like a dozen crushing blows
All those midtime dances
Chance
Guys, this is very tedious... stop!
@SONG: DARK GLOBE
(actually not an R.E.M. original, but included here anyway.
written by Syd Barrett, included on Orange Crush 3" CD single)
Oh where are you now?
Pussy willow that smiled on my sleeve
When I was alone, you promised a stone from your heart
My head kissed the ground,
I was half the way down, treading the sand
Please... please lift a hand, I'm only a person
Whose armbands beat on his hands hang tall
Won't you miss me? Why don't you miss me at all?
My head touched the ground, I was half the way down,
Strumming the sand
Please lift a hand, I'm only a person
With eskimo chain, you tattered my brain all the way
Won't you miss me? Why don't you miss me at all?
(
geocities.com/sunsetstrip/bistro) (
geocities.com/sunsetstrip)