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?
Becomes your special book, it was simple then
When the party lulls, if we fall by the side
Alone in a crowd, a bartered lantern borrowed
If I'm to be your camera, then who will be your face?
I should keep myself in between the pages
Of the green light room if we fall by the side
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?
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It's about a photographer friend of theirs, carol something, she died in a car crash, this was their goodbye.
carol levy
I've heard the Carol Levy connection, too. what interests me is that Stipe once said that there's song on Reckoning that's about Anne Frank (I think he said it was Harborcoat -not sure about that). but of all the songs on the album, this one seems to the lyrics that most logically connect to her.
I've always thought of this song as a sequel to "Perfect Circle" from Murmur. The song, and especially the refrain, has a similar lyrical and musical feel to it. At least I hear it that way.
inside room, special book. That could be anne frank. Did anne have a lantern? Like my english teacher said, you can see something in a story, it doesnt have to be what the author had in mind.
I agree w/ leamanc. Most of the REM songs hit their peak when Mike just starts w/ his gutteral wails. so f*** rocks.
I do love this song. No idea what a bartered lantern borrowed is, or why its so important. Alone in a crowd...I get that.
If you pull up next to me and I am wailing to this song, Im probably changing those lyrics. Free advice in that scenario - keep your window up, I dont sing as well as mike, thats why i have a day job...
Very beautiful yet haunting song. Apparently, it's about their friend Carol, a photographer, who died in a carcrash.
It is a song dedicated to their photographer friend Carol Levy who was killed in a car accident in between Murmur and Reckoning. This is Stipe’s tribute to her.
Jesus, what a great and beautiful song. I see no concrete meaning in it, only emotion, just like the best REM songs. Pavement did it justice with their cover, even though they changed up the lyrics considerably.
I always used to struggle to hear the lyrics on this song - along with many other mumbled Stipe lyrics of the time. That helped make it so cool though. Fantastic song, great guitar.
Beautiful and haunting. I can see how it might relate to Anne Frank.