(Steady repetition is a compulsion mutually re-enforced
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

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

(Steady repetition is a compulsion mutually re-enforced.
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


Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst

9-9 song meanings
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    General Comment

    Michael Stipe would have fallen within the autistic spectrum if he had been diagnosed as a child, so if you want to understand the arc of their career, you see it as a long arc of Stipe trying to make sense of the world with the mind of a high-functioning autistic (high-functioning because he knew how to speak english, even though he was awful at it for a long time, not to mention he had terrible social skills)

    androgybunny already put it succinctly: the song is about being awful in social situations, having so many potentially bright and brilliantly things to say and yet being totally tongue tied and unable to put it out there. Beautifully enough, though, through this song he did put it out there. Music is really good in this song as well: Sonic Youth totally borrowed from this palette.

    bernlin2000on January 14, 2012   Link

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