Nothing could be bring me closer
Nothing could be bring me near
Where is the road I follow
To leave, 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, 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
That temper madness with an even extreme

That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me down

I say that I'm a bantam lightweight
I say that I'm a phantom airplane
That never left the ground

Lift my hands, my eyes are still
I'll walk into the sea
Lift myself a different place
Just leave it

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

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

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

Leave, leavin'
Leave, leave, leave
Leave, leave, leavin'
Leave, leave, leave


Lyrics submitted by daffy

Leave [Alternate] Lyrics as written by Peter Buck Bill Berry

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Leave song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

17 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I have always been a large R.E.M. fan but would only listen to their old albums. I was a snotty close-minded fan, that thought R.E.M. was finished after Green. I woke from a nap to this song and instantly realized the quality of it. New Adventures has become perhaps my favorite R.E.M. album and I now appriciate all R.E.M. has done. Their music has matured with the band.

    barfolimewon October 15, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.