R.E.M. - Electrolite

Your eyes are burning holes through me.
I'm gasoline. I'm burnin' clean.
Twentieth century go and sleep.
You're Pleistocene. That is obscene. That is obscene.

You are the star tonight.
Your sun electric, outasight.
Your light eclipsed the moon tonight.
Electrolite.
You're outasight.

If I ever want to fly.
Mulholland Drive.
I am alive.
Hollywood is under me.
I'm Martin Sheen
I'm Steve McQueen
I'm Jimmy Dean

You are the star tonight.
Your sun electric, outasight.
Your light eclipsed the moon tonight.
Electrolite.
You're outasight.

If you ever want to fly.
Mulholland Drive.
Up in the sky.
Stand on a cliff and look down there.
Don't be scared
you are alive.
You are alive.

You are the star tonight.
Your sun electric outasight.
Your light eclipsed the moon tonight.
Electrolite.
You're outasight.

Twentieth century go and sleep.
Really deep. We won't blink
Your eyes are burning holes through me.
I'm not scared I'm outta here.
I'm not scared. I'm outta here.

R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
I was brain-dead, locked out, numb, not up to speed
I thought I'd pegged you an idiot's dream
Tunnel vision from the outsider's screen
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh

I'd studied your cartoons, radio, music, tv, movies, magazines
Richard said, "Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy"
A smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh

"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
Butterfly decal, rearview mirror, dogging the scene
You smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You said that irony was the shackles of youth, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
I never understood, don't fuck with me, uh-huh

R.E.M. - Beat A Drum

the sun reflected in the back of my eye
I knocked my head against the sky

the dragonflies are busy buzzing me
seahorses if we were in the sea

halfway from coal, halfway to diamond.
my fall knocked a mean chip out of me.

I'm gathering as far as I can reach
we're perched up on the precipice
and this is what I've seen

this is all I want it's all I need
this is all I am it's everything
this is all I want it's all I need.

a bluejay hectors from the felled catalpa tree
doctorate in science and a theologian's
dream

the dragonflies are trying to lecture me
seahorses if we were in the sea

this is all I want it's all I need
this is all I am it's everything
this is all I want it's all I need.

beat a drum for me, like a butterfly wing
tropical storm across the ocean

but don't explain, I'm sure I'll want to know.
but don't forget, we're just halfway from coal

this is all I want it's all I need
this is all I am it's everything
this is all I want it's all I need.

R.E.M. - Welcome To The Occupation

Hang your collar up inside
Hang your dollar on me
Listen to the water still
Listen to the causeway
you are mad and educated
primitive and wild
Welcome to the occupation

Here we stand and here we fight
All your fallen heroes
held and dyed and skinned alive
Listen to the Congress fire
Offering the educated
primitive and loyal
Welcome to the occupation

Hang your collar up inside
Hang your freedom higher
Listen to the buyer still
Listen to the Congress
Where we propagate confusion
Primitive and wild
Fire on the hemisphere below

Sugar cane and coffee cup
Copper, steel and cattle
An annotated history
the forest for the fire
Where we open up the floodgates
Freedom reigns supreme
Fire on the hemisphere below
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me

R.E.M. - Camera

From the inside room when the front room greeting
Becomes your special book, it was simple then
When the party lulls, if we fall by the side

Will you be remembered? Will she be remembered?
Alone in a crowd, a bartered lantern borrowed
If I'm to be your camera, then who will be your face?

I fell by your bed once, I didn't want to tell you
I should keep myself in between the pages
Of the green light room if we fall by the side

From the inside room when the front room greeting
Becomes your special book, it was simple then
When the party lulls, if we fall by the side
I still like you, can you remember?

R.E.M. - Fretless

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 a 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

R.E.M. - Chorus And The Ring

hey there now young one wholly, swing along
quote the scriptures, keep them guessing
which pit you crawled from.
just defy it, just deny it, was it fun?
your time has come-
what have you done? what have you done?

that's when the insults start to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chime in, the greek chorus,
the machine of god singing

it's the poison that in measures brings
illuminating vision
it's the knowing with a wink that we expect in
southern women
it's the wolf that knows which root to dig
to save itself
it's the octopus that crawled back to the sea

that's when the insults start to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chime in, the greek chorus,
the machine of god ring!

hammered, shooting plywood in the backyard
laughing 'cause the racket makes the
blackbirds sing
write the holy terror, suck the marrow from
the bone- singe
your own wings burning books, you got the
chorus and the ring

that's when the insults start to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chime in, the greek chorus,
the machine sings
that's when the insults starts to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chime in, the greek chorus,
the machine sings

that's when the calibration brittle as a stick
gets you the gold ring
and the tar museum Che Guevera wink,
gold ring
gold ring.

sing.
sing.
sing.
sing.

R.E.M. - Wendell Gee

That's when Wendell Gee takes a tug
Upon the string that held the line of trees
Behind the house he lived in
He was reared to give respect
But somewhere down the line he chose
To whistle as the wind blows
Whistle as the wind blows, with me

He had a dream one night
That the tree had lost its middle
So he built a trunk of chicken wire
To try to hold it up
But the wire, the wire turned to lizard skin
And when he climbed inside
There wasn't even time to say
Goodbye to Wendell Gee
So whistle as the wind blows
Whistle as the wind blows, with me

If the wind were colors
And if the air could speak
Then whistle as the wind blows
Whistle as the wind blows

R.E.M. - Disappear

I've dragged my feet
across the seat
and jumped out the passenger side.
The only thing worth looking for
is what you find inside.
But that had not yet appeared.
Lost, invisible, here.
Tel Aviv and Agadir,
Taroudant or Olomouc
before I learned to see
the vanishing point appear.

I looked for you and everywhere.
I looked for you and everywhere.

There is a calm I haven't come to yet
I spent half my life figuring what comes next
I telescoped in.
I'll finally win,
I'll finally win the prize.
That now my eyes see
a comic's perfect timing squeezed.
I'm headfirst fighting everything
the crushing force of memory
erasing all I've been
the vanishing point appears

I looked for you and everywhere.
I looked for you and everywhere.
Tell me why you're here
I came to disappear.

look at this face.
Can you believe it?
Am I living in a beautiful vacuum?
Because I can't see it
the vanishing point appears.

I looked for you and everywhere.
I looked for you and everywhere.
Tell me why you're here
I came to disappear
tell me why you're here
I came to disappear
I came to disappear

R.E.M. - Maps And Legends

He's not to be reached, he's to be reached.
He's not to be reached, he's to be reached.

Called the fool and the company,
On his own where he'd rather be.
Where he ought to be, he sees what you can't see, can't you see that?

Maybe he's caught in the legend,
maybe he's caught in the mood.
Maybe these maps and legends
have been misunderstood.

Down the way the road's divided,
Paint me the places you have seen.
Those who know what I don't know
refer to the yellow, red and green

Maybe he's caught in the legend,
maybe he's caught in the mood.
Maybe these maps and legends
have been misunderstood.

He's not to be reached, he's to be reached.
He's not to be reached, he's to be reached.
He's not to be reached, he's to be reached.
He's not to be reached, he's to be reached.

The map that you painted didn't seem real.
He just sings whatever he's seen
Point to the legend, point to the east,
Point to the yellow, red and green

Maybe he's caught in the legend,
maybe he's caught in the mood.
Maybe these maps and legends
have been misunderstood, been misunderstood. (Maps and legends)

(Maps and legends) Is he to be reached? He's not to be reached.
(Maps and legends) Is he to be reached? He's not to be reached.
(Maps and legends) Is he to be reached? He's not to be reached anymore.

R.E.M. - Oddfellows Local 151

Oddfellows local 151 behind the firehouse
Where Peewee sits to prove a sage to teach
Peewee gathered up his proof
Reached up and scratched his head
Fell down and hit the ground again

Firehouse. Firehouse.

Why do the heathens rage behind the firehouse
Where Peewee sits upon the wall to preach?
This boy and girl that gather pearls
Of wisdom falling from his mouth
Wash off the blood, wash off the rum

Firehouse. Firehouse.

Oddfellows local 151 behind the firehouse
Where Peewee sits upon the wall to preach.
This boy and girl that gather pearls
Of wisdom falling from his mouth
Wash off the blood, wash off the 151.

Firehouse. Firehouse.
Firehouse. Firehouse.

R.E.M. - 7 Chinese Bros.

This mellow, sweet, short-haired boy, woman offers pull up a seat
Take in one symphony now, we've just begun to battle
Wrap your heel in bones of steel, turn the leg, a twist of color
Autumn waited hold it to you in the colored come another

Seven Chinese brothers swallowing the ocean
Seven thousand years to sleep away the pain
She will return, she will return

This mellow, sweet, short-haired boy, woman offers pull up a seat
Take in one symphony now, we've just begun to battle
Wrap your heel in bones of steel, turn the leg, a twist of color
Autumn waded seven seas swimming colored come another

Seven Chinese brothers swallowing the ocean
Seven thousand years to sleep away the pain
She will return, she will return

This mellow, sweet, short-haired boy, woman offers pull up a chair
Take in one symphony now, I guess we lost that battle
Wrap your heel in bones of steel, turn the leg, a twist of color
Autumn waded seven seas swimming colored come another

Seven Chinese brothers swallowing the ocean
Seven thousand years the Communi did reign
She will return, she will return

R.E.M. - Around The Sun

I want the sun to shine on me
I want the truth to set me free
I wish the followers would lead
with a voice so strong it could knock me to my knees

Hold on world 'cause you don't know what's coming
Hold on world 'cause I'm not jumping off
Hold onto this boy a little longer
Take another trip around the sun

If I jumped into the ocean to believe
If I climbed a mountain would I have to reach?
Do I even dare to speak, to dream, believe?
Give me a voice so strong
I can question what I have seen

Hold on world 'cause you don't know what's coming
Hold on world 'cause I'm not jumping off
Hold onto this boy a little longer
Take another trip around the sun

Around the sun
Around the sun
Around the sun
Let my dreams set me free.
Believe, believe.
Now now now now now now

R.E.M. - Bad Day

A public service Announcement followed me home the other day
I paid it never mind
Go away
Shit so thick you could stir it with a stick- free Teflon whitewashed presidency
We're sick of being jerked around
Wear that on your sleeve

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, Lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down

Have you ever seen the televised St. Vitus Subcommittee Prize
Investigation dance? Those-ants-in-pants glances
Well, look behind the eyes
It's a hallowed, hollow anesthetized
"Save my own ass, screw these guys"
Smoke and mirror lock down

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, Lord
Count your blessings
The papers wouldn't lie!
I sigh
Not one more

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

We're dug in the deep, the price is steep
The auctioneer is such a creep
The lights went out, the oil ran dry
We blamed it on the other guy
Sure, all men are created equal
Here's the church, here's the steeple
"Please stay tuned - we cut to sequel"
Ashes to ashes, we all fall down

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, Lord
Count your blessings
Ignore the lower fears
Oh, this means war

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, Lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

R.E.M. - Try Not To Breathe

I will try not to breathe.
I can hold my head still with my hands at my knees.
These eyes are the eyes of the old, shiver and fold.
I will try not to breathe.
This decision is mine. I have lived a full life
And these are the eyes that I want you to remember. Oh.

I need something to fly over my grave again.
I need something to breathe.
I will try not to burden you.
I can hold these inside. I will hold my breath
Until all these shivers subside,
Just look in my eyes.

I will try not to worry you.
I have seen things that you will never see.
Leave it to memory me. I shudder to breathe.
I want you to remember. Oh. (you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
Over my grave again. (you will never see)

I need something to breathe. (something to breathe)
Baby, don't shiver now.
Why do you shiver now? (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
Over my grave again. (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to breathe. Oh. Oh. Oh.

I will try not to worry you.
I have seen things that you will never see.
Leave it to memory me. Don't dare me to breathe.
I want you to remember. Oh. (you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
Over my grave again. (you will never see)

I need something to breathe. (something to breathe)
Baby, don't shiver now.
Why do you shiver now? (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to breathe. (something to breathe - I have seen things you will never see)
I want you to remember.

R.E.M. - I'll Take the Rain

The rain came down
The rain came down
The rain came down on me.

The wind blew strong
The summer song
Fades to memory

I knew you when
I loved you then
The summer's young and helpless.

You laid me bare
You marked me there
The promises we made.

I used to think
As birds take wing
They sing through life so why can't we?
You cling to this
You claim the best
If this is what you're offering
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain.

The nighttime creases
Summer schemes
And stretches out to stay.
The sun shines down
You came around
You love easy days.

But now the sun,
The winter's come.
I wanted just to say
That if I hold
I'd hope you'd fold Open up inside, inside of me.

I used to think
As birds take wing
They sing through life so why can't we?
You cling to this
You claim the best
If this is what you're offering
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain.

This winter song
I'll sing along
I've searched its still refrain
I'll walk alone
I've given this, take wing
Celebrate the rain.

I used to think
As birds take wing
They sing through life so why can't we?
You cling to this
You claim the best
If this is what you're offering
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain.

R.E.M. feat. Patti Smith - E-Bow The Letter

Look up, what do you see?
all of you and all of me
florescent and starry
some of them, they surprise

the bus ride, I went to write this, 4:00 a.m.
this letter
fields of poppies, little pearls
all the boys and all the girls sweet-toothed
each and every one a little scary
I said your name

I wore it like a badge of teenage film stars
hash bars, cherry mash and tinfoil tiaras
dreaming of Maria Callas
whoever she is
this fame thing, I don't get it
I wrap my hand in plastic to try to look through it
Maybelline eyes and girl-as-boy moves
I can take you far
this star thing, I don't get it

I'll take you over, there
I'll take you over, there
aluminum, tastes like fear
adrenaline, it pulls us near
I'll take you over
it tastes like fear, there
I'll take you over

will you live to 83?
will you ever welcome me?
will you show me something that nobody else has seen?
smoke it, drink
here comes the flood
anything to thin the blood
these corrosives do their magic slowly and sweet
phone, eat it, drink
just another chink
cuts and dents, they catch the light
aluminum, the weakest link

I don't want to disappoint you
I'm not here to anoint you
I would lick your feet
but is that the sickest move?
I wear my own crown and sadness and sorrow
and who'd have thought tomorrow could be so strange?
my loss, and here we go again

I'll take you over, there
I'll take you over, there
aluminum, tastes like fear
adrenaline, it pulls us near
I'll take you over
it tastes like fear, there
I'll take you over

look up, what do you see?
all of you and all of me
florescent and starry
some of them, they surprise

I can't look it in the eyes
seconal, Spanish fly, absinthe, kerosene
cherry-flavored neck and collar
I can smell the sorrow on your breath
the sweat, the victory and sorrow
the smell of fear, I got it

I'll take you over, there
I'll take you over, there
aluminum, tastes like fear
adrenaline, it pulls us near
I'll take you over
it tastes like fear, there
I'll take you over

pulls us near
tastes like fear...

nearer, nearer
over, over, over, over
yeah, look over
I'll take you there, oh, yeah
I'll take you there
oh, over
I'll take you there
over, let me
I'll take you there...
there, there, baby, yeah

R.E.M. - Half A World Away

This could be the saddest dusk I've ever seen

Turn to a miracle, high-alive

My mind is racing, as it always will

My hands tired, my heart aches

I'm half a world away here

And I had sworn to go it alone, hold it along

And haul it along and hold it

Go it alone 'n hold it along

Hold

Oh, this lonely deeps and holy way

Half a world, half a world away

My shoes are gone, my life spent

I've had too much to drink

I didn't think, I didn't think of you

I guess that's all I needed

To go it alone and hold it along

And haul it along and hold it

Blackbirds, backwards, forwards and fall

Hold

Oh, this lonely world is wasted

Pathetic eyes, high-alive

Blind eye that turns to see

The storm it came up strong

It shook the trees and blew away our fear

I couldn't leave it here

To go it alone, hold it along

Haul it along and hold it

Go it alone hold it along

Hold

Go it alone and hold it along

Haul it along 'n hold it

Blackbirds, backwards, forwards and fall

Hold

Oh, this could be the saddest dusk I've ever seen

Turn to a miracle, high-alive

My mind is racing, as it always will

My hands tired, my heart aches

I'm half a world away to go

R.E.M. - Perfect Circle

Put your hair back, we get to leave

Eleven gallows on your sleeve

Shallow figure, winners paid

Eleven shadows way out of place

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

Pull your dress on and stay real close

Who might leave you where I left off?

A perfect circle of acquaintances and friends

Drink another, coin a phrase

Heaven assume, shoulders high in the room

Heaven assume, shoulders high in the room

Heaven assume, shoulders high in the room

Try to win and suit your needs

Speak out sometimes but try to win

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

Standing too soon, shoulders high in the room

R.E.M. - Star 69

You don't have to take the bar exam to see
What you've done is ignoramus 103
What've I got to hang my hat on
You don't have a pot to pee in
All this just to be your friend
I was there until the end.
Extortion and arson, petty larceny.

I know you called-I know you called-I know you called
I know you called-I know you called-I know you hung up my line
Star 69

I know all about the warehouse fire
I know squirrelys didn't chew the wires
3 people have my number
The other 2 were with me
I don't like to tell-tell but i'm not your patsy.
This time you have gone too far with me.

I know you called-I know you called-I know you called
I know you called-I know you called-I know you hung up my line
Star 69

Why'd you put your quarter down on me?
This reads like some dork inside edition hard copy.
I can't be your character witness
I can't be your alibi
Doorbell rings it's the FBI
We learned Spy vs. Spy
You my friend are guilty as can be.

I know you called-I know you called-I know you called
I know you called-I know you called-I know you hung up my line
I know you called-I know you called-I know you called
I know you called-I know you called-I can't be your alibi
Star 69