R.E.M. Album

Mott the Hoople and the game of Life. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Andy Kaufman in the wrestling match. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Monopoly, 21, checkers, and chess. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mister Fred Blassie in a breakfast mess. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Let's play Twister, let's play Risk. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I’ll see you in heaven if you make the list. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Now, Andy did you hear about this one? Tell me, are you locked in the punch?
Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby. Are we losing touch?
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothin' up his sleeve, then nothing is cool.

Moses went walking with the staff of wood. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Newton got beaned by the apple good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Egypt was troubled by the horrible asp. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mister Charles Darwin had the gall to ask. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Now, Andy did you hear about this one? Tell me, are you locked in the punch?
Hey, Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby. Are you having fun?
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothin' up his sleeve, then nothing is cool.

Here's a little agit for the never-believer. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Here's a little ghost for the offering. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Here's a truck stop instead of Saint Peter's. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mister Andy Kaufman's gone wrestling (wrestling bears). Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Now, Andy did you hear about this one? Tell me, are you locked in the punch?
Hey, Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey baby, are we losing touch?
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothin' up his sleeve, then nothing is cool.

If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothin' up his sleeve, then nothing is cool
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothin' up his sleeve, then nothing is cool
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothin' up his sleeve, then nothing is cool

from the "Man On The Moon" soundtrack 

I've watched the stars fall silent from your eyes
All the sights that I have seen
I can't believe that I believed I wished 
That you could see
There's a new planet in the solar system
There is nothing up my sleeve

I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punchlines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

And all this talk of time
Talk is fine
And I don't want to stay around
Why can't we pantomime, just close our eyes
And sleep sweet dreams
Me and you with wings on our feet

I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punchlines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

I'm breaking through
I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond

I want the hummingbirds, the dancing bears
Sweetest dreams of you
Look into the stars
Look into the moon

I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punchlines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

I'm breaking through
I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond

I'm breaking through
I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great

(repeat following two verses 3 x each)
I'm breaking through
I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond

I'm breaking through
I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great

(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, we assume the loss to mankind and 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 sandblast glisten,

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 sandblast

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, we assume the loss to mankind and 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

"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

hummin'
all the way to Reno
you've dusted the non-believers
and challenged the laws of chance

now sweeter
you're so sugar sweet
you may as well have had Kick Me
fastened on your sleeve

you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star.
you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star,

wing is written on your feet
your achilles heel
is the tendency
to dream
but you've know that from the beginning
you didn't have to go so far
you didn't have to go.

you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star.
you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star.

you know who you are
you know who you are
you know who you are

hummin'
all the way to Reno,
you've written your own directions.
and whistled the rules have changed.

you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star (star).
you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star (star).
you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star (star).
you know what you are,
you're gonna be a star (star).

hummin'
all the way to Reno
all the way to Reno.
all the way to Reno.

you're gonna be a star
you're gonna be a star
you're gonna be a star
you're gonna be a star

Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up

That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up

Consider this
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
That was just a dream

That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
Try. Cry. Fly. Try.
That was just a dream
Just a dream
Just a dream
Dream...

Look up, what do you see?
All of you and all of me
Fluorescent 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…) Aluminum, tastes like fear
(…there) 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,) Aluminum, tastes like fear
(take you there) Adrenaline, it pulls us near
(I’ll take you over…)
It tastes like fear
(…there)
It pulls us near
(I'll take you over)

Look up and what do you see?
All of you and all of me
Fluorescent 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…) Aluminum, tastes like fear
(…there) Adrenaline, it pulls us near
(I'll take you over,) Aluminum, tastes like fear
(take you there) Adrenaline, it pulls us near

(I'll take you over,)
It tastes like fear
(take you there)
It pulls us near
(I'll take you over,)
It tastes like fear
(take you there)
It pulls us near…

(Pulls us near) It tastes like fear
(Tastes like fear) It pulls us near

(Pulls us near) Nearer, nearer
(Over, over) Nearer, nearer
(Over, over, over, over)
(Yeah, look over) I'll take you there
(Oh, yeah) I'll take you there, I'll take you there
(Oh, over) I'll take you there
(Over, let me) I'll take you there
(There) I’ll take you there
(There, there, baby, oooh…)

Follow me, don't follow me
I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
Collar me, don't collar me
I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
We are agents of the free
I've had my fun and now its time to
Serve your conscience overseas (over me, not over me)
Coming in fast, over me

Follow me, don't follow me
I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
Collar me, don't collar me
I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
We are agents of the free
I've had my fun and now its time to
Serve your conscience overseas (over me, not over me)
Coming in fast, over me

(High on the roof, thin the blood,
another one climbs on the waves tonight,
comin' in, you're home)

"We'd circle and we'd circle and we'd circle to stop and consider and
centered on the pavement stacked up all the trucks jacked up and
our wheels in slush and orange crush in pocket and all this here county
hell any county it's just like heaven here and I was remembering and I
was just in a different county and all then this whirlybird that I
headed for I had my goggles pulled off I knew it all I knew every back
road and every truck stop"

Follow me, don't follow me
I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
Collar me, don't collar me
I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
We are agents of the free
I've had my fun and now its time to
Serve your conscience overseas (over me, not over me)
Coming in fast, over me

(High on the roof, thin the blood,
another one climbs on the waves tonight,
comin' in, you're home)

(High on the roof, thin the blood,
another one climbs on the waves tonight,
comin' in, you're home)

charades, pop skill
water hyacinth, named by a poet.
imitation of life
like a koi in a frozen pond
like a goldfish in a bowl
I dont want to hear you cry

thats sugarcane that tasted good
thats cinnamon thats hollywood
c'mon c'mon no one can see you try

you want the greatest thing
the greatest thing since bread came sliced.
you've got it all, you've got it sized.
like a friday fashion show teenager
freezing in the corner
trying to look like you dont try

thats sugarcane that tasted good.
thats cinnamon thats hollywood
c'mon c'mon no one can see you try

no one can see you cry

thats sugarcane that tasted good
thats freezing rain thats what you could
c'mon c'mon no one can see you cry

this sugarcane
this lemonade
this hurricane, i'm not afraid.
c'mon c'mon no one can see me cry
this lightning storm
this tidal wave
this avalanche, i'm not afraid.
c'mon c'mon no one can see me cry

thats sugarcane that tasted good
thats who you are, thats what you could
c'mon c'mon no one can see you cry

thats sugarcane that tasted good
thats who you are, thats what you could
c'mon c'mon no one can see you cry

receiving dept., 3 a.m.
staff cuts have socked up the overage
directives are posted.
no callbacks, complaints.
everywhere is calm.

Hong Kong is present
Taipei awakes
all talk of circadian rhythm

I see today with a newsprint fray
my night is colored headache grey
daysleeper
daysleeper
daysleeper

the bull and the bear are marking
their territories
they're leading the blind with
their international glories

I'm the screen, the blinding light
I'm the screen, I work at night.

I see today with a newsprint fray
my night is colored headache grey
don't wake me with so much.
daysleeper.

I cried the other night
I can't even say why
fluorescent flat caffeine lights
its furious balancing

I'm the screen, the blinding light
I'm the screen, I work at night
I see today with a newsprint fray
my night is colored headache grey

don't wake me with so much. the
ocean machine is set to 9
I'll squeeze into heaven and valentine
my bed is pulling me.
gravity
daysleeper. daysleeper.
daysleeper. daysleeper. daysleeper.

Hey what's the big deal?
Tell me how to feel?
I know where we boomeranged and fell from grace.
Point me to the stars I'm up for the chase.
I know where we fell on our face.
Jump with me.
You jump with me.

HEY, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL-
I'M AN ANIMAL.
I'M AN ANIMAL.
I'M AN ANIMAL.

I don't wanna boomerang.
I don't wanna cannonball.
I'm not angling.
I don't want to fall.
Tell me I'm the anchor of my own ascension.
Tell me I'm a tourist in the 4th dimension?

HEY, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL-
I'M AN ANIMAL.
I'M AN ANIMAL.
I'M AN ANIMAL.

[bridge] work it out.

I am vibrating at the speed of light.
Take my hand, we'll wind up the night.
Spin me, win me, lift me, kiss me.
Trip me, trust me, cuss me, judge me.
touch me now.
you take my hand.
you trust me now
you understand.

SO, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL-
I'M AN ANIMAL.
I'M AN ANIMAL.
I'M AN ANIMAL. repeat

I am vibrating at the speed of light.

Dee Dee Dee Dee
Dee Dee Dee Dee

This here is the place where I will be stayin'.
There isn't a number. You can call the pay phone.
Let it ring a long, long, long, long time.
If I don't pick up, hang up, call back, let it ring some more. Oh....
If I don't pick up, pick up... The sidewinder sleep, sleep, sleeps in a coil

Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Oh...

There are scratches all around the coin slot
like a heartbeat, baby, trying to wake up,
but this machine can only swallow money.
You can't lay a patch by computer design.
It's just a lot of stupid, stupid signs.

Tell her,
tell her she can kiss my ass, then laugh and say that you were only kidding.
That way she'll know that it's really, really, really, really me, me

Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Oh...

Baby, instant soup doesn't really grab me.
Today I need something more sub-sub-sub-substantial.
A can of beans or black-eyed peas, some Nescafe and ice,
a candy bar, a fallin' star, or a reading from Doctor Seuss : )

Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Oh...

The cat in the hat came back, wrecked a lot of havoc on the way,
always had a smile and a reason to pretend.
But their world has flat backgrounds and little need to sleep but to dream.
The sidewinder sleeps on his back.

Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
I can always sleep standing up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Oh...

Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
I can always sleep standing up. Call me when you try to wake her.
Oh...

Call me when you try to wake her up. Call me when you try to wake her.
I can always sleep standing up. Call me when you try to wake her.
I can always sleep standing up. Call me when you try to wake her.

We've got to moogie, moogie, move on this one.

Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

If you are confused check with the sun
Carry a compass to help you along
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around

So…
Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around
If wishes were trees the trees would be falling
Listen to reason
Season is calling

Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

If wishes were trees the trees would be falling
Listen to reason
Reason is calling
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around

So Stand (Stand)
Now face North
Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before
Now stand (Stand)
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't

Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face West
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

Stand in the place where you are (Now face North)
Stand in the place where you are (Now face West)
Your feet are going to be on the ground (Stand in the place where you are)
Your head is there to move you around (Stand in the place where you are)
So stand.

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

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

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, outta sight.
Your light eclipsed the moon tonight.
Electrolite.
You're outta sight.

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, outta sight.
Your light eclipsed the moon tonight.
Electrolite.
You're outta sight.

Twentieth century go to 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.

I know you say
Maybe some day
I need never be alone
I know I say
It's the right way
But you'll never be the one

I've been so alone now
For a long long, long time
I don't wanna hang out now
With the folks that just stopped by

While you party
You've been looking
But your searching never ends
You've been going
With the wrong crowd
You've got all the right friends

I've been walking alone now
For a long, long time
I don't want to spend now
With the folks...that just aren't
mine

I don't wanna be with you anymore
I just don't want you anymore
I don't wanna be with you anymore
I just don't want you anymore

Rave on!
Fall to...fall to...fall to...fall too
Fall to...fall to...fall to...fall too

I don't wanna be with you anymore
I just don't want you anymore
I don't wanna be with you anymore
I just don't want you anymore

I know you say
maybe some day
I need never be alone
I know I say it's the right way,
but you'll never be alone

I 've been walking alone now
for a long long time
I don't gotta hang out
with the folks that just aren't mine

I don't wanna be with you anymore
I just don't want you anymore
I don't wanna be with you anymore
I just don't want you anymore

When your day is long
and the night, 
the night is yours alone,
when you're sure you've had enough of this life,
well hang on.
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
if you feel like letting go, (hold on)
if you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on.

'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. 
Hold on.
Don't throw your hand.
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
when you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
everybody cries. Everybody hurts... sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on.
Everybody hurts.
(no, no, no, no, no)
You are not alone.

I've found a way to make you
I've found a way
a way to make you smile

I read bad poetry
into your machine
I save your messages
just to hear your voice.
you always listen carefully
to awkward rhymes.
you always say your name.
like I wouldn't know it's you,
at your most beautiful.

I've found a way to make you
I've found a way
a way to make you smile

at my most beautiful
I count your eyelashes secretly.
with every one, whisper I love you.
I let you sleep.
I know you're closed eye watching me,
listening.
I thought I saw a smile.

I've found a way to make you
I've found a way
a way to make you smile

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago,
turned around backwards so the windshield shows.
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse.
Still, it's so much clearer.
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge.
The moon is low tonight.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
I'm not sure all these people understand.
It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
of recklessness and water.
They cannot see me naked.
These things, they go away,
replaced by everyday.

Nightswimming, remembering that night.
September's coming soon.
I'm pining for the moon.
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
could not describe nightswimming.

You, I thought I knew you.
You I cannot judge.
You, I thought you knew me,
this one laughing quietly underneath my breath.
Nightswimming.

The photograph reflects,
every streetlight a reminder.
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night.

Hello, I saw you, I know you, I knew you
I think I can remember your name...name
Hello, I'm sorry I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else

Should we talk about the weather? (Hi...hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (Hi...hi, hi, hi)

Hello, how are you? I know you, I knew you
I think I can remember your name...name
Hello, I'm sorry I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else

Should we talk about the weather? (Hi...hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (Hi...hi, hi, hi)

Hello my friend, are you visible today?
You know I never knew that it could be so strange...strange
Hello, I'm sorry I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else

Should we talk about the weather? (Hi...hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (Hi...hi, hi, hi)
(Hi, hi)
(Hi, hi, hi)
(Hi, hi)
(Hi, hi, hi)
(Hi, hi)
(Hi, hi, hi)

(Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe)

Divide your cultured pearls and paste
I'm looking for to lay to waste
Of all the things I cannot taste
and this not the racy race
They spoke loud

I believe in what you do
I believe in watching you
It's what you do

I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do

Given the choice
Given the heart
Given the tool
Given the word
Given the cheers

I believe in what you do
I believe in watching you
It's what you do

I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do

(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 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

(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!

(an "Out of Time" outtake, later release as an import B-side for "Drive." Later
(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)

Smack, crack, Bushwhacked.
Tie another one to the racks, baby.

Hey, kids, rock and roll.
Nobody tells you where to go, baby.

What if I ride? What if you walk?
What if you rock around the clock?
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
What if you did? What if you walk?
What if you tried to get off, baby?

Hey, kids, where are you?
Nobody tells you what to do, baby. Oh...

Hey, kids, shake a leg.
Maybe you're crazy in the head, baby. Oh...

Maybe you did. Maybe you walked.
Maybe you rocked around the clock.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
Maybe I ride. Maybe you walk.
Maybe I drive to get off, baby.

Hey, kids, shake a leg.
Maybe you're crazy in the head, baby.

Ollie, Ollie.
Ollie, Ollie, Ollie.
Ollie, Ollie in come free, baby.

Hey, kids, where are you?
Nobody tells you what to do, baby.

Smack, crack. Shack-a-lack.
Tie another one to your backs, baby. Oh...

Hey, kids, rock and roll.
Nobody tells you where to go, baby.

Maybe you did. Maybe you walked.
Maybe you rock around the clock
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
Maybe I ride. Maybe you walk.
Maybe I drive to get off, baby.

Hey, kids, where are you?
Nobody tells you what to do, baby.

Hey, kids, rock and roll.
Nobody tells you where to go, baby, baby, baby.

Keys cut, three for the price of one.
Nothing's free but guaranteed for a lifetime's use.
I've changed the locks
and you can't have one.
You, you know the other two.

The brakes have worn so thin that you could hear,
I hear them screeching through the door from our driveway.
Hey love, look into your glove box heart.
What is there for me inside? This love is tired.
I've changed the locks. Have I misplaced you?
Have we lost our minds?
Will this never end?
It could depend on your take.

You. Me. We used to be on fire.
If keys are all that stand between,
Can I throw in the ring?
No gasoline.
Just fuck me kitten.
You are wild and I'm in your possession.
Nothing's free, so fuck me kitten.

I'm in your possession.
So fuck me kitten.

(first performed during '95 Monster tour; included in '96's Road Movie) 

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)
la la la la revolution

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 acquitted
of the crimes that we committed
the future never happened, it never happened

la la la la revolution (the future never happened)
la la la la revolution

your revolution is a silly idea, yeah
you tried to look like a punk rock girl
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)
la la la la revolution (I picked up a bad vibration)
la la la la revolution

Nothing could be bring me closer.
Nothing could be bring me nearer.
Where is the road I follow
To leave it, leave?

It's under, under, under my feet.
The sea spread out there before me.
Where do I go when the land touches sea?
There is my trust in what I believe.

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
To leave it, believe it,
Leave it all behind.

Shifting the dream
Nothing could bring me further from my old friend time.
Shifting the dream
It's charging the scene
I know where I marked the signs.

I suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I like it like that and I know it
I know it well, ugly and sweet,
A temper man who said believe in his dream.

That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me down
I sent it on an airline plane
I sent it off in an airplane
That never left the ground.

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
Leave, believe it.
Leave it all behind.

Lift me, lift me,
I’ll dream my dream.
I lost myself in nothing
The heartache calling me
I lost myself in sorrow
I lost myself in pain
I lost myself in gravity
Memory, leave, leave, leave

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
To leave it, believe it,
Leave it all behind.

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
To leave it, believe it,
Leave it all behind.

Lift my hands, my eyes are still,
I walk into the scene
Shoot myself in a different place
And leave it

I've longed for this to take me,
I've longed for my release
I've waited for the callin'
To leave, leave.

Leave, leave.
Leavin', leavin'

the concrete broke your fall
to hear you speak of it
I'd have done anything
I would do anything
I feel like a cartoon brick wall
to hear you speak of it
you've been so sad
it makes me worry
why not smile?
you've been sad for a while.
why not smile?

I would do anything
to hear you speak of it.
why not smile?
you've been sad for a while.
you've been sad for a while.

Grounded, 5 a.m., the nightlite is comforting
but gravity is holding you.
Once settled into sleep,
you have watched
on repeat the story of your life
across the ceiling
and in review.

You've said the air was singing.
It's calling you, you don't believe.
These things you've never seen.

Good morning, how are you?
The weather's fine,
the sky is blue.
It's perfect for our seminar.

Now close your eyes and start to breathe,
allow the noise to recede,
allow yourself to drift and fly away.
But you just stay.

You've said the air was singing,
it's calling you, you don't believe
these things you've never seen,
never heard.

Did you hear these voices?
Did you hear these voices calling?
Did you hear these voices calling you?

Locked into a conference room,
we're only what our minds assume
and rationale is leaving you. 

This conceit these systems of belief
Your counselor agrees
You always mark these boundaries now you're free
and with relief.

You've said the air was singing,
it's calling you, you don't believe
these things you've never seen,
never heard, never dreamed.

You said the air was singing,
it's calling you, you don't believe
these things you've never seen,
never heard, never dreamed.

Never, never, never...

Once you had a dream
of oceans and sunken cities,
memories of things you've never known
and you have left alone.

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

the dragonflies are busy buzzing me.
a seahorse as if we were in the sea.

half way from coal
half way to diamond.
my fall knocked a mean chip out of me.
gathering as far as I can reach.
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.
this is all I want,
it's all I need.

a bluejay hectors from the felled Catalpa tree.
doctorate in science and the theologians dream.
the dragonflies are trying to lecture me.
a seahorse as if we were in the sea.

but 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 home.

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.

(Everly Brothers) 

Dream, dream dream dream, dream, dream dream dream

When I want you in my arms, when I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

Dream, dream dream dream

When I feel blue in the night, and I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz, I'm dreamin' my life away

I need you so that I could die, I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

Dream, dream dream dream, dream

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, any time, night or day
Only trouble is, gee wiz, I'm dreamin' my life away

I need you so that I could die, I love you so, and that is why
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is

Dream, dream dream dream (repeats out)

This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love

Fire
Fire

This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left behind
A simple prop to occupy my time
This one goes out to the one I love

Fire (she's comin' down on her own, now)
Fire (she's comin' down on her own, now)

This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I've left…behind
Another prop has occupied my time
This one goes out to the one I love

Fire (she's comin' down on her own, now)
Fire (she's comin' down on her own, now)
Fire (she's comin' down on her own, now)
Fire (she's comin' down on her own, now)

One, two, three, four

This flower is scorched
This film is on
On a maddening loop.
These clothes,
These clothes don't fit us right
I'm to blame
It's all the same
It's all the same

You come to me with the bone in your hand
You come to me with your hair curled tight
You come to me with positions
You come to me with excuses
Ducked out in a row
You wear me out
You wear me out

We've been through fake-a-breakdown
Self-hurt, plastics, collections
Self-help, self-pain,
EST, psychics, fuck all
I was central
I had control
I lost my head
I need this
I need this
A paperweight, junk garage
Winter rain, a honey pot
Crazy, all the lovers have been tagged.
A hotline, a wanted ad

It's crazy what you could've had
It's crazy what you could've had
It's crazy what you could've had
I need this
I need this

It's crazy what you could've had
Crazy what you could've had
I need it
I need this

It's crazy what you could've had
It's crazy what you could've had
I need this
I-I need this

It's crazy what you could've had
I need this
I need this
It's crazy what you could've had

Crazy what you could've had
I need this
I need this
Crazy what you could've had.
Crazy what you could've had.