Stand

R.E.M.

Stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west, think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

If you are confused, check with the sun
Carry a compass to help you along
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around

So, stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west, think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around
If wishes were trees the trees would be falling
Listen to reason
Season is calling

Stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west, think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

If wishes were trees the trees would be falling
Listen to reason
Reason is calling
Your feet are going to be on the ground
Your head is there to move you around

So stand (stand)
Now face north
Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before
Now stand (stand)
Now face west
Think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't

Stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west, think about the place where you live
Wonder why you haven't before

Stand in the place where you are (now face north)
Stand in the place where you are (now face west)
Your feet are going to be on the ground (stand in the place where you are)
Your head is there to move you around, so stand


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Stand Lyrics as written by Peter Buck Bill Berry

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Stand song meanings
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41 Comments

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  • +8
    General Comment
    Long time listener, first time caller here... For those of you who think the song lacks meaning, I suggest you work on your imagination. Go outside of your house. Face north (or maybe you don´t really know which way north is- use a compass if you need some help). Look at the big picture... Where are you in relationship to the big picture? Stand in the place where you work (now face west- you know which way that is, right??). If youŕe confused, check with the sun (rises in the east and sets in the west, we all know that, right?). Think about the impact of our existence as humans. I wish global warming would go away. If wishes were trees, the trees would be falling... Your feet are going to be on the ground (nobody can miss that, kinda tough to deny gravity) your head is there to move you around (are you using your brain to interact with this environment in an intelligent/ respectable manner?-not sure everybody´s doing this). The people who feel it as a call to action are right. The albumś called Green. Look at your home planet and take a look at how you are helping/ hurting/ impacting the situation. Are you too busy? Too lazy? Have you been sitting on your a$$ for too long? Most of us have. Don´t think about what you´ll do one day... You can make a difference right now if you care. Stand in the place where you are!
    pudding_timeon July 27, 2008   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    GET A LIFE
    VIsraWratSon June 23, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    Why do people hate this song? It rules. I used to rock out to this when I was a little kid.
    Reynard Muldrakeon May 27, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    "call to action"? I'm a big REM fan, but the only action this song ever called me to was to reach for the remote.
    xodon March 09, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This is a typical REM song about privilege. The northern hemisphere of the world is much, much more affluent than the south. The western world is more developed than the east. In fact, when an eastern nation becomes developed they are said to have become "westernized." The point of the song, however, isn't just that some people are better off than others. It's about how people born to affluent societies take their privilege for granted. REM is asking their listeners to appreciate why they have what they have, and to do something about it. The irony is that despite this high mindedness, Michael Stipe was recently identified by a waitress at Babbo as a terrible tipper.
    Fielding99on February 27, 2016   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning
    those song give me a strange urge to go out and mow the lawn
    dreindl9on June 14, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this has gotta have a deep meaning...wat it is, i don't know...
    ZinbobDanon April 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Don't knock yourself out. REM considers this the worst song they've ever recorded.
    olddudeon May 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    They said it's the "stupidest" song (meaning stupid meaning-wise) not the worst. That's from the In Time insert. You can have a good song without deep meaning. The tune here is decent, but not amazing or anything.
    Relinquo1on May 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    althought they say theres no meaning, i think it obviously has 1. its about figuring out what to do with your life. you can jsut stand around and no nothing or you can try to make something out of your life.
    epp88on June 05, 2004   Link

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