R.e.m.

Radio Free Europe


Beside yourself if radio's gonna stay.
Reason: it could polish up the grey.
Put that, put that, put that up your wall
That this isn't country at all

Raving station, beside yourself

Keep me out of country in the word
Deal the porch is leading us absurd.
Push that, push that, push that to the hull
That this isn't nothing at all.

Straight off the boat, where to go?
Calling on in transit, calling on in transit
Radio Free Europe, radio...

Beside defying media too fast
Instead of pushing palaces to fall
Put that, put that, put that before all
That this isn't fortunate at all

Raving station, beside yourself
Calling on in transit, calling on in transit
Radio Free Europe, radio...

Decide yourself, calling all of the medias too fast

Keep me out of country in the word
Disappoint is into us absurd

Straight off the boat, where to go?
Calling on in transit, calling on in transit
Radio Free Europe


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Pilgrimage


Take a turn, take a turn
Take our fortune, take our fortune

They called the clip a two-headed cow
Your hate clipped and distant, your luck, pilgrimage
Rest assured this will not last, take a turn for the worst
Your hate clipped and distant, your luck a two-headed cow
The pilgrimage has gained momentum
Take a turn, take a turn
Take our fortune, take our fortune

Speakin' in tongues, it's worth a broken lip
Your hate clipped and distant, your luck, pilgrimage
Rest assured this will not last, take a turn for the worst
Your hate clipped and distant, your luck a two-headed cow
The pilgrimage has gained momentum
Take a turn, take a turn
Take our fortune, take our fortune

Pilgrimage. Pilgrimage.

Speakin' in tongues, it's worth a broken lip
Your hate clipped and distant, your luck
Rest assured this will not last, take a turn for the worst
Your hate clipped and distant, your luck two-headed
The pilgrimage has gained momentum
Take a turn, take a turn
Take our fortune, take our fortune

Pilgrimage. Pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage has gained momentum
Take a turn, take a turn
Take our fortune, take our fortune
Take a turn, take a turn
Take our fortune, take our fortune


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Laughing


Laocoon and her two sons
Pressured storm, tried to move
No other more, emotion bound
Martyred, misconstrued

Lighted in a room, lanky room
Lighted, lighted, laughing in tune
Lighted, lighted, laughing

Laocoon and her two sons
Run the gamut, sated view
Know them more, emotion bound
Martyred, misconstrued

Lighted in a room, lanky room
Lighted, lighted, laughing in tune
Lighted, lighted, laughing

In a room, lock the door, latch the room
Lighted, lighted, laughing

Laocoon and her two sons
Ran the gamut, settled new,
Find a place fit to laugh,
Lock the doors, latch the room
Lighted in a room, lanky room
Lighted, lighted, laughing in tune
Lighted, lighted, laughing in tune
Lighted, lighted, laughing in tunes
Lighted, lighted, laughing in tunes


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Talk About The Passion


Empty prayer, empty mouths, combien reaction
Empty prayer, empty mouths, talk about the passion
Not everyone can carry the weight of the world
Not everyone can carry the weight of the world

Talk about the passion
Talk about the passion

Empty prayer, empty mouths, combien reaction
Empty prayer, empty mouths, talk about the passion
Combien, combien, combien du temps?

Not everyone can carry the weight of the world
Not everyone can carry the weight of the world
Combien, combien, combien du temps?

Talk about the passion
Talk about the passion
(repeat)


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Moral Kiosk


Scratch the scandals in the twilight
Trying to shock but instead
Idle hands all orient to her
Pass a magic pillow under head
It's so much more attractive inside the moral kiosk
Inside, cold, dark, fire, twilight
Inside, cold, dark, fire, twilight

They scratch the scandals in the twilight
She was laughing like a Horae
Put that knee in dour landslide
Take this step to dash a roving eye
It's so much more attractive inside the moral kiosk
Inside, cold, dark, fire, twilight
Inside, cold, dark, fire, twilight

(repeat first verse)


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Perfect Circle


Put your hair back, we get to leave
Eleven gallows on your sleeve
Shallow figure, winner's 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 assumed, shoulders high in the room
Heaven assumed, shoulders high in the room
Heaven assumed, 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. - Murmur - 1983

Catapult


Ooooo, we were little boys
Ooooo, we were little girls
It's nine o'clock, don't try to turn it off
Cowered in a hole, opie mouth. Question:
Did we miss anything? Did we miss anything?
Did we miss anything? Did we miss anything?
Catapult. Catapult. Catapult. Catapult.

Ooooo, we were little boys
Ooooo, we were little girls
It's nine o'clock, don't try to turn it off
Cowered in a hole, opie mouth.
We in step, in hand, your mother remembers this.
Hear the howl of the rope, a question:
Did we miss anything? Did we miss anything?
Did we miss anything? Did we miss anything?
Catapult. Catapult. Catapult. Catapult.

March could be darker. March could be darker.
Catapult. Catapult. Catapult. Catapult.

(Repeat 2nd verse)


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Sitting Still


This name I got we all agreed
See could stop stop it will red
We could bind it in the scythe
We could gather, throw a fit

Up to buy, Katie buys a kitchen-size, but not me in
Setting trap for the big kill, waste o' time, sitting still

I'm the sun and you can read.
I'm the sign and you're not deaf.
We could bind it in the scythe.
We could gather, throw a fit.

Up to buy, Katie buys a kitchen-size, but not me in
Setting trap for the big kill, waste o' time, sitting still
I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear.

This name I got we all agreed
See could stop stop it will red
We could bind it in the cist
We could gather, throw a fit.

Up to buy, Katie buys a kitchen-size, but not me in
Setting trap for the big kill, waste o' time, sitting still
I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear.

You can gather when I talk, talk until you're blue
You could get away from me. Get away from me.

I'm up to buy, Katie buys a kitchen-size, but not me in
Setting trap for the big kill, waste o' time, sitting still
I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear.
I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear. I-I-I can hear.
Can you hear me?


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

9-9


Steady repetition is a compulsion mutually reenforced.
Now what does that mean?
Is there a just contradiction?
Nothing much.
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord, hesitate.

Got to punch
Right on target
Twisting tongues
Gotta stripe down his back
all nine yards down her back

Give me a couple,
Don't give me a couple of pointers,
Turn to lies and conversation fear

Got to punch
Right on target
Twisting tongues
Gotta stripe down his back
all nine yards down her back

Give me a couple,
Don't give me a couple of pointers,
Turn to lies and conversation fear

What is in my mind?
What is in my mind?

Steady repetition is a compulsion mutually reenforced.
Now what does that mean?
Is there a just contradiction?
Nothing much.
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake, oh come on, hesitate, hesitate.

Got to punch
Right on target
Twisting tongues
Gotta stripe down her back
all nine yards down his back

Give me a couple,
Don't give me a couple of pointers,
Turn to lies and conversation fear

Conversation fear. Conversation fear. Conversation fear.


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Shaking Through


Could it be that one small voice doesn't count in the room?
Yellow like a geisha gown, denial all the way
Could this by three be ten? Honor marches on.
Yellow like a geisha gown, denial all the way

Shaking through, opportune. Shaking through, opportune.

Are we grown way too far?
Taking after rain
Yellow like a geisha gown, denial all the way
Shaking through, opportune. Shaking through, opportune.

In my life.

Ears that are still,
Children of today on parade,
Yellow like a geisha gown, denial all the way
Shaking through, opportune. Shaking through, opportune.
Shaking through, opportune. Shaking through, opportune.


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

We Walk


Up the stairs to the landing, up the stairs into the hall, oh, oh, oh
Take oasis, Marat's bathing
We walk through the wood, we walk
Up the stairs to the landing, up the stairs into the hall, oh, oh, oh
Take oasis, Marat's bathing
We walk through the woods, we walk
Take oasis, take oasis, take oasis, take oasis
Up the stairs to the landing, up the stairs into the hall, oh, oh, oh
Take oasis, Marat's bathing
We walk through the world, we walk
Up the stairs to the landing, up the stairs into the hall, oh, oh, oh
Take oasis, Marat's bathing
Up the stairs to the landing, up the stairs into the hall, oh, oh, oh
Take oasis, Marat's bathing
Up the stairs to the landing, up the stairs into the hall, oh, oh, oh
Into the hall


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

West Of The Fields


Long gone, intuition to assume are gone when we try.
Dream of a living jungle in my way back home when we die.

West of the fields. West of the fields. West of the fields. West of the fields.
Long gone. Long gone. Long gone. Long gone. West of the fields.

Dreams of Elysian, to assume are gone when we try
Tell now what is dreaming
When we try to listen with your eyes oversimplify

The animals, how strange. Try, try to stick it in.
The animals, how strange. Try, try to stick it in.

Dreams of Elysian, to assume are gone when we try
Tell now what is dreaming when we try.
Listen through your eyes when we die.

West of the fields. West of the fields. West of the fields. West of the fields.
Long gone. Long gone. Long gone. Long gone. West of the fields.


R.E.M. - Murmur - 1983

Harborcoat



They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood push through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads "REACT"

They shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
Reddened their necks, collared their clothes
Then we danced the dance till the menace got out
She gathered the corners and called it her gown

Please find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
Find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it

They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood push through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads "REACT", R-E-A-C-T

They shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
Reddened their necks, collared their clothes
Then we danced the dance till the menace got out
She gathered the corners and called it her gown

She said...


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

Seven Chinese Brothers


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. - Reckoning - 1984

So. Central Rain

(parts quoted by Michael Stipe in Rolling Stone in a letter in Dec 1988)


Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The trees will bend, the cities wash away
The city on the river there is a girl without a dream

I'm sorry

Eastern to Mountain, third party call, the lines are down
The wise man built his words upon the rocks
But I'm not bound to follow suit
The trees will bend, the conversation's dimmed
Go build yourself another home, this choice isn't mine

Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The ocean sang, the conversation's dimmed
Go build yourself another dream, this choice isn't mine


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

Pretty Persuasion


It's what I want, hurry and buy,
all has been tried, follow reason and buy,
Cannot shuffle in this heat, it's all wrong
Try to put that on your sleeve it's all wrong it's all wrong

He's got a pretty persuasion
She's got pretty persuasion
God damn, pure confusion
She's got pretty persuasion

It's what I want, hurry and buy,
all has been tried, follow reasoning,
And I put that in this heat it's all wrong
Try to wear that on my sleeve it's all wrong all wrong

He's got a pretty persuasion
She's got pretty persuasion
God damn, pure confusion
He's got pretty persuasion

In the light I saw
quite a scene there

It's what I want, hurry and buy,
all has been tried, follow reason and buy,
Try to put that in this heat it's all wrong
Cannot wear that on your sleeve it's all wrong it's all wrong


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

Time After Time (Annelise)


Ask the girl of the hour by the water tower's watch
If your friends took a fall, are you obligated to follow

Time after time after time

when the bull's on his hooves, when you gather friends by the tower
If you try to refuse, will they judge your worth by the hour?

If your tired and you're tried you can find me in my room
You can stay if you want and the third time you can't lose

Ask the girl of the hour, by the water tower's watch
We can fight if you want but who will turn out the light


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

Second Guessing


Why're you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing
What will be your look this season?
Who will be your book this season?

Why're you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing
What will be your look this season?
Who will be your book this season?

Here we are

Why're you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing
What will be your look this season?
Be in my club, write a book this season


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

Letter Never Sent


It's been pretty simple so far, vacation in Athens is calling me
And knock, knock, knock on wood, I thought I'd left you behind
Heaven is yours, heaven is yours, heaven's yours where I live

The thought of the catacombs left my soul at home
This letter never sent
And it's so far, it's so dark, i'm so lost
Heaven's yours, heaven's yours, heaven's yours where I live
(Another story, another story for a while, someone show me)
When I'm moving too fast, where's my new address?

The water is evening now, the catacombs are filling in
If my soul was made of stone, no, not, not so dark, dark

And it's so far, it's so dark, i'm so lost
And it's so far, it's so far, it's so far

Heaven's yours, heaven's yours, heaven's yours where I live
(Another story, another story for a while, someone show me)
Heaven's yours, heaven's yours, heaven's yours where I live
(Another story, another story for a while, someone show me)


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

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. - Reckoning - 1984

(Don't Go Back To) Rockville


Looking at your watch a third time waiting in the station for a bus
Going to a place that's far, so far away and if that's not enough
Going where nobody says hello, they don't talk to anybody they don't know
You'll wind up in some factory that's full time filth and nowhere left to go
Walk home to an empty house, sit around all by yourself
I know it might sound strange, but I believe
You'll be coming back before too long

Don't go back to Rockville
And waste another year

At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend
I don't care if you're not here with me
'Cause it's so much easier to handle
All my problems if I'm too far out to sea
But something better happen soon
Or it's gonna be too late to bring you back

It's not as though I really need you
If you were here I'd only bleed you
But everybody else in town only wants to bring you down and
That's not how it ought to be
I know it might sound strange, but I believe
You'll be coming back before too long


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

Little America


I can't see myself at thirty, I don't buy a lacquered thirty
Caught like flies, preserved for tomorrow's jewelery, again
Lighted in the amber yard, a green shellback, green shellback
Preserved for tomorrow's eyes, in tree beer tar-black brer sap,
The biggest wagon is the empty wagon is the noisiest,
The consul a horse, Jefferson I think we're lost

Who will tend the farm museums? Who will dust today's belongings?
Who will sweep the floors, hedging near the givens?
Rally round your leaders it's the mediator season
Diane is on the beach, do you realize the life she's led?
The biggest wagon is the empty wagon is the noisiest,
The consul a horse, oh man I think we're lost
The biggest wagon is the empty wagon is the noisiest,
A matter of course, Jefferson, Jeffer

Lighted in the amber yard, a green shellback, green shellback
Sky-lied, sty-tied, Nero pie-tied, in tree tar-black brer sap,
Reason has harnessed the tame, a lodging, not stockader's game
Another Greenville, another Magic Mart, Jeffer, grab your fiddle,
The biggest wagon is the empty wagon is the noisiest,
The consul a horse, Jefferson I think we're lost
The biggest wagon is the empty wagon is the noisiest,
The consul a horse, Jefferson I think we're lost


R.E.M. - Reckoning - 1984

Feeling Gravity's Pull


I fell asleep and read just about every paragraph.

Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around
Peel back the mountains peel back the sky
Stomp gravity into the floor
It's a Man Ray kind of sky
Let me show you what I can do with it
Time and distance are out of place here

Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed
When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull

Somewhere near the end it said
"You can't do this", I said "I can too"
Shift sway rivers shift, oceans fall and mountains drift
It's a Man Ray kind of sky
Let me show you what I can do with it

Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed
When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull onto my eyes,
holding my head straight (looking down).
This is the easiest task I've ever had to do...

I fell asleep and read just about every paragraph

Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around
Shift the swaying river's shift
Oceans fall and mountains drift
It's a Man Ray kind of sky
Let me show you what I can do with it
Time and distance are out of place here

Step up, step up, step up the sky is open-armed
When the light is mine, I felt gravity pull onto my eyes,
holding my head straight (looking down).
This is the easiest task I've ever had to do...

Reason had harnessed the tame
Holding the sky in their arms
Gravity pulls me down


R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction - 1985

Maps And Legends


(for the Rev. Howard Finster, "a man of vision and feeling - a fine example to all")

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. (4 times)

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. - Fables of the Reconstruction - 1985

Driver 8


The walls are built up, stone by stone,
the fields divided one by one.
And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We've been on this shift too long"

And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"

I saw a treehouse on the outskirts of the farm.
The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged.
Bells are ringing through the town again,
Children look up, all they hear is sky-blue, bells ringing

And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"

Way to shield the hated heat.
Way to put myself to sleep.
Way to shield the hated heat.
Way to put myself, my children to sleep.

He piloted this song in a plane like that one.
She is selling faith on the Go Tell crusade.
Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again.
Field to weed is lookin' thin

And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We've been on this shift too long."
And the train conductor says
"Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"


R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction - 1985

Life And How To Live It


Burn bright through the night, two pockets lead the way
Two doors to go between the wall was raised today
Two doors remain before your others and your own
Keep these books well stocked away and take your happy home

My carpenter's out and running about, talking to the street
My pockets are out and running about
Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there

Burn bright through the night, two pockets lead the way
Two doors to go between the wall was raised today
Raise the walls and shout its flaws, a carpenter should rest
So that when you tire of one side the other serves you best

My carpenter's out and running about, talking to the street
My pockets are out and running about
Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there

The hills ringing hear the words in time
Listen to the holler, listen to my walls within my tongue
Can't you see you made my ears go tin?
the air quicken tension building inference suddenly
Life and how to live it

Raise the walls and shout its flaws, a carpenter should rest
So that when you tire of one side the other serves you best
Read about the wisdom lost, a knock, a knock, a knock
A secret knock one hammer's locked the other wisdom lost

My carpenter's out and running about, talking to the street
My pockets are out and running about
Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there
My carpenter's out and running about, barking in the, listen to the holler
My pockets are out and running about
Barking in the street to tell what I have hidden there

Listen, listen to the holler,
If I write a book it will be called "Life and How to Live It"


R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction - 1985

Old Man Kensey


Old Man Kensey wants to be a sign painter
First he's got to learn to read
He's gonna be a clown on TV.
Flags at his elbow, time to breath
(That's my folly) I believe

Drink up the lake, Kensey's away
(That's my folly) That's my mistake

Old Man Kensey wants to be a goalie
First he's got to learn to count
He's gonna be a clown on a circus mount
Letters to me signed in sopped up tar
(That's my folly) Kensey's going far

John, Bill and Ted, stand on your head
(That's my folly) I'm ready to go

Old Man Kensey wants to be a dog catcher
First he's got to learn to stand
He's gonna be a clown in a marching band
Letters to me signed ransom greed
(That's my folly) I believe

Drink up the lake, John, Bill and Ted,
(That's my folly) That's my mistake
Kensey's away, stand on your head
(That's my folly) I'm ready to go


R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction - 1985

Can't Get There From Here


When the world is a monster
Bad to swallow you whole
Kick the clay that holds the teeth in
Throw your trolls out the door

If you're needing inspiration
Philomath is where I go
Lawyer Jeff he knows the low-down
He's mighty bad to visit home

(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)

When your hands are feeling empty
Stickheads jumping off the ground
Tris is sure to shirr the deers out
Brother Ray can sing my song

(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)

Hands down, Calechee bound
Land locked, kiss the ground
The dirt of seven continents going
round and round
Go on ahead Mr. Citywide
hypnotize, suit and tie
Gentlemen testify

If your world is a monster
Bad to swallow you whole
Philomath they know the low-down
Throw your trolls out the door

(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)

(Thank you, Ray)


R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction - 1985

Green Grow The Rushes


The wheelbarrow's fallen
Look at my hands
They've found some surplus, cheaper hands
Rubbing palms and pick and choose,
who will they choose? Here is the news.

Look at that building, look at this man
Haloed and whitewashed
Gone to find a cheaper hand
he'll offer a pound, offer a pound.

Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
The compass points the workers home

Pay for your freedom, find another gate
Guilt by associate, the rushes wilted a long time ago
Guilty as you go

Stay off that highway, word is it's not so safe
The grasses that hide the greenback
The amber waves of gain again
The amber waves of gain

Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
The compass points the workers home


R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction - 1985