(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
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)
Twisting tongues, gotta stripe down his back
All nine yards down her back
Don\'t give me a couple of pointers
Turn to lies and conversation fear
Twisting tongues, gotta stripe down his back
All nine yards down her back
Don\'t give me a couple of pointers
Turn to lies and conversation
What is in my mind?
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)
Twisting tongues, gotta stripe down her back
All nine yards down his back
Don\'t give me a couple of pointers
Turn to lies and conversation fear
Conversation fear, conversation fear
Conversation fear
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I've never had any idea what this song is about...but I've always celebrated September 9th as R.E.M. day. It's my own personal holiday.
Social anxiety.
@androgybunny That's basically what I thought, based solely on the only two words that I could either understand or made any sense at all to me: conversation fear. I'm just 1.5 years younger than Michael Stipe and if he had/has social anxiety I can tell you one big difference between us - he has been able to make a name for himself despite, or because, of it. That's still an inspiration to me.
@androgybunny That's basically what I thought, based solely on the only two words that I could either understand or made any sense at all to me: conversation fear. I'm just 1.5 years younger than Michael Stipe and if he had/has social anxiety I can tell you one big difference between us - he has been able to make a name for himself despite, or because, of it. That's still an inspiration to me.
"I pray the Lord, hesitate"
So good. Who can't relate to that sentiment?
@SkylinePigeon me
@SkylinePigeon me
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.
@bernlin2000 disagree with your Sonic Youth idea- they were Branca/No Wave influenced
@bernlin2000 disagree with your Sonic Youth idea- they were Branca/No Wave influenced
One of REMs best, though
One of REMs best, though
i read one version with the lyrics as "give me a cup of love, give me a cup of charm" instead of "give me a couple....
I don't think these lyrics are right. Stipe has said that the song is "not meant to be understood"; Meaning the lyrics are to be intelligible. Although the last words definitely are 'conversation fear', so I agree with androgybunny.
the guitar in this song is so awesome
Well, you tried.
these lyrics are wrong
YES Michael Stipe would have fallen within the autistic spectrum BUT YOKO SAYS kill rock stars for fame. the song was written by thurSTON MOORE for SONIC YOUTH but was 2 poppy. HOLE would sing it to COCO MOORE til brookelyn then shoot crack and liquid eyeliner 4 BREAKFAST. 2 THAT WE song he did put it out there. Music is really good in this song as well: Sonic Youth totally borrowed OR NOT. listen 4 rock LOBSTER.
@exobscura You are an inexcusable piece of crap on the face of this planet. You do not deserve to own either a cell phone, tablet or computer. You definitely do not deserve to have Internet access available to you. You should be hauled off to a sanitarium in a straight jacket and placed in a rubber room with no windows. Your memory will be such as Hannibal Lector's ........ an insignificant turd on the face of the earth that needs to be flushed from everyone's memory.
@exobscura You are an inexcusable piece of crap on the face of this planet. You do not deserve to own either a cell phone, tablet or computer. You definitely do not deserve to have Internet access available to you. You should be hauled off to a sanitarium in a straight jacket and placed in a rubber room with no windows. Your memory will be such as Hannibal Lector's ........ an insignificant turd on the face of the earth that needs to be flushed from everyone's memory.
To the audience now: Thank you for your applause. I'm here 'til Thursday, Please try...
To the audience now: Thank you for your applause. I'm here 'til Thursday, Please try the Veal. And don't forget to tip your waiter".