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Sitting Still Lyrics
This name I got we all were green
See could stop stop it will red
We could bind it in the cist
We could gather, throw a fit
Up to par, and Katie bars the kitchen signs, but not me in
Set a trap for love, big kill, waste of time, sitting still
I'm the sun and you can read
I'm the sign and you're not deaf
We could bind it in the scythe
We could gather, throw a fit
Up to par, and Katie buys a kitchen-size, but not me in
Sit and try for the big key, a waste of time, sitting still
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
This name I got we all were green
See could stop stop it will red
We could bind it in the cist
We could gather, throw a fit
Up to par, and Katie buys a kitchen-size, but not me in
Sit and try for the big key, a waste of time, sitting still
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
You can gather when I talk, talk until you're blue
You could get away from me, get away from me
I'm up to par, and Katie buys a kitchen-size, but not me in,
Sit and try for the big key, a waste of time, sitting still
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
Can you hear me?
See could stop stop it will red
We could bind it in the cist
We could gather, throw a fit
Set a trap for love, big kill, waste of time, sitting still
I'm the sign and you're not deaf
We could bind it in the scythe
We could gather, throw a fit
Sit and try for the big key, a waste of time, sitting still
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
See could stop stop it will red
We could bind it in the cist
We could gather, throw a fit
Sit and try for the big key, a waste of time, sitting still
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
You could get away from me, get away from me
Sit and try for the big key, a waste of time, sitting still
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you, I, I, I can hear you
Can you hear me?
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer
Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Duration
3:17
Submitted by
xpankfrisst On Jun 14, 2002
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
well I think the song is about a band in a bar on a weeknite. playing to a very small crowd.. mostly kitchedn staff... ahem,, and a one and a rwo...... Up to par in Katies bar Some kitchen staff, but not many in, something something.
waisting time sitting still thank you
Swagbag had it right. Stipe wrote the song about his sister who was a teacher at a school for hearing impaired kids. I read this in an magazine years ago and have never listened to the song the same way. If you read the lyrics, this is one REM song that is actually easier (in my opinion) than others to detemine what Stipe was singing about.
Swagbag had it right. Stipe wrote the song about his sister who was a teacher at a school for hearing impaired kids. I read this in an magazine years ago and have never listened to the song the same way. If you read the lyrics, this is one REM song that is actually easier (in my opinion) than others to detemine what Stipe was singing about.
Still the best band ever.
Still the best band ever.
Michael Stipe has said that this is one of his least favourite R.E.M. songs because the lyrics are 'just a collection of vowels that make no sense'. good song though. anyways, that's what i think...
@xpankfrisst Stipe just prefers to speak contraries
@xpankfrisst Stipe just prefers to speak contraries
stipe apparently doesn't know wat he even sang, only knew wat he wanted it to sound like...i've seen about 20 different combinations of words that all sound the same sung, if u were in a cover band u could take ur pick...
i'm up to par/i've upped the par i'm up to buy i'm up the bar/i've upped the bar
and katie???
buys a kitchen size/sign? bars the kitchen sign(s)?
but...
not me in/not may ann/knocked me in
apparently, it's based on the saying "kaite, bar the kitchen door" and the correct lyric is(or at least something of the effect to) "i'm up to par and katie bars the kitchen signs but not me in" but i prefer "i'm up to buy and katie buys a kitchen-size, but not may ann"...it's a great song, if the lyrics make sense or not
If you listen to the live version on 'Olympia' Stipe says after this song
If you listen to the live version on 'Olympia' Stipe says after this song
"This is why the internet sucks. Well number one, they never get the lyrics right. Number two, it says here "These lyrics are approximations, Stipe himself doesn't know what he says." Thank you search engine."
"This is why the internet sucks. Well number one, they never get the lyrics right. Number two, it says here "These lyrics are approximations, Stipe himself doesn't know what he says." Thank you search engine."
Made me laugh. I think in the live version he's definitely singing "setting trap for the big kill" but I'm sure on Murmur it's "silly time for love-making"...
Made me laugh. I think in the live version he's definitely singing "setting trap for the big kill" but I'm sure on Murmur it's "silly time for love-making"...
@ZinbobDan No combination of words is any more sensible than the other. It's the feeling they're conveying that gives the song its magic. It's a wonderfully complex song because it's amazingly well structured.
@ZinbobDan No combination of words is any more sensible than the other. It's the feeling they're conveying that gives the song its magic. It's a wonderfully complex song because it's amazingly well structured.
it's kinda funny how this song makes sense when your high. i think the song reflects somebody who listens to everybody's problems, experiences, etc but doesn't really care (hence the ambiguity of the lyrics, he's not really paying attention). but when it comes to his time to talk/share whatever he thinks, those who were lecturing him disregard whatever he has to say and continue to talk, being forced to sit still
"You can gather when I talk, talk until you're blue You could get away from me Get away from me" everytime the person comes around to listen to the singers thoughts, they start talking over him(talk until YOU'RE blue), upsetting the singer.
the last line is his last attempt at trying to let his thoughts out "i can hear you (meaning he's listening to the babel but doesn't care) can you hear me (am i babeling to you/do you understand me)?"
it's funny how an ambiguously written song can have meaning to somebody. probably my favorite R.E.M. song
@smokey24 [ dash a roving eye ]
@smokey24 [ dash a roving eye ]
this could be my fave r.e.m song ever! i love general way its played and michael's voice really suits the song...
not sure what its about though but it could be about a person close to him...
IMO. The song best represents what the concept of Murmur was; cryptic lyrics that Stipe liked to play with. One of the definitions of Murmur is to make a low or indistinct sound. I read somewhere that he tried not to enunciate on purpose. You all have it right on the lyrics since I've never heard Michael say exactly what the words are.
All I can make out for near-certain is "I can hear you," but I'm not even sure about that, and I've been listening to this song/album for years. The rest of it is "unintelligible at any speed." I'll give you credit for trying, however.
@HyperBully You can talk until you're blue
@HyperBully You can talk until you're blue
Michael Stipe was known for lacking narrative in his earlier songs (that's a bit of an
understatement). He would sing words (or fragments thereof) that felt or sounded right,
independent of any literal meaning. Further, as songs were composed, scrapped, and re-
composed, unrelated themes might get smashed together into one song.
The verses of Sitting Still are inspired by Stipe's sister, Cindy (or Cyndy?) who taught
deaf children. Her name is abbreviated to "C" in the second line. Also, there are
versions of the song where the full third line is "We can bind it and the sister's where
your children learn"; in most versions Stipe abbreviated the whole line, stopping at the
first syllable of "sister", leaving the rest off. So it's not "cyst" or "scythe", but
"sist".
After learning the full line, I cannot listen to the album version of the song without
hearing the full line in my head. One such version is posted below, I highly recommend it.
As for the chorus, I've always thought it was "catch in time" not "kitchen time" or other
silliness. I assumed that when a door is held by a bar, the metal brackets that hold the
bar are called "catches". I could be way off, but it makes tons more sense to me than any
kitchen reference.
Further, the chorus quite probably is an unrelated lyric referring to the origin of the
phrase "Katy bar the door". Background: back in 1437 a posse had gathered to murder the
King of Scotland. The bar was removed from his chamber door ahead of time to allow the
assassination. A member of the court, Catherine Douglass, put her arm in place of the
missing bar to prevent the murder of the king. Her arm was broken and the king was
murdered. Hence the reference to "the big kill" and wasting time sitting still.
Regardless of my speculation above, listening to various alternate versions of the song
(links below) offer very clear renditions of the vocal which, to me result in the following
set of lyrics:
This name I got we all agree C could stop, stop it well read We could bind it and the sist' We could gather throw a fit
Up to par and Katy bars the catch in times but not me in Sit and try for the big kill Wasting time, sitting still
I'm the sign and you can read I'm the sign and you're not deaf We could bind it and the sist' We could gather throw a fit
Up to par and Katy bars the catch in times but not me in Sit and try for the big kill Wasting time, sitting still I can hear you
This name I got we all agree C could stop, stop it well read We could bind it and the sist' We could gather throw a fit
Up to par and Katy bars the catch in times but not me in Sit and try for the big kill Wasting time, sitting still I can hear you
You can gather when I talk Talk until you're blue You could get away from me, get away from me
I'm up to par and Katy bars the catch in times but not me in Sit and try for the big kill Wasting time, sitting still I can hear you
Can you hear me?
Of course, We could bind it and the sister's where your children learn
You're the sign and we're not deaf (any variations of "you", "we", or "I" in either place)
We could gather when we talk You could gather when we talk (again any variations of "you", "we", or "I" in either place)
We could get away from you, get away from me
References: http://members.efn.org/~d_haglof/remfaq.html#thirtyone
Sister line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2ocaJ36ajk
very clear vocal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzWtq_1YYZ4
There was a typo above, where I meant to say: "Of course, there are many alternat eversions of the song with different lyrics, such as:"
There was a typo above, where I meant to say: "Of course, there are many alternat eversions of the song with different lyrics, such as:"
@mlganser3 Love the thoroughness! Thanks, man. Best interpretation yet.
@mlganser3 Love the thoroughness! Thanks, man. Best interpretation yet.
@mlganser3 The song is certainly NOT a reference to his teacher sister, either. That's just far too easy. I believe some things Stipe says are complete red herrings so that he can add another layer of mystique to his songs.
@mlganser3 The song is certainly NOT a reference to his teacher sister, either. That's just far too easy. I believe some things Stipe says are complete red herrings so that he can add another layer of mystique to his songs.
I can hear you - can you hear me
The chorus is a nod to his sister who worked with deaf kids.
@SwagBag It's actually a nod to the Elysian Fields
@SwagBag It's actually a nod to the Elysian Fields