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Mr. Richards Lyrics
Mr. Richards your position is a messenger pigeon
Left behind you when the camp moved on
We thought that you would listen
But the words they never crystallized
Into a truth that you might own, hey hey
Mr. Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention
Mr. Richards you're forgiven
For a narrow lack of vision
But the fires are still raging on
The public's got opinions
And these consequences border on
The compound that you race will sell it say, hey hey
Mr.Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention
So listen, your intention
Sign the papers, stamp the ribbon
You're mistaken if you think we'll just forget
You can thump your chest and rattle
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
We're the children fo the choir, hey
And we know what's going on
Mr. Richards you're conviction
Had us cheering in the kitchen
Now the jury's eating pigeon pie
So tell me how is prison
Have they taught you how to listen
We've begun to bridge the schism
Pay attention, pay attention
Mr. Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention
You can thump your chest and rattle
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
We're the children fo the choir, hey
From the compond fire, hey
And we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
Left behind you when the camp moved on
We thought that you would listen
But the words they never crystallized
Into a truth that you might own, hey hey
Pay attention, pay attention
For a narrow lack of vision
But the fires are still raging on
The public's got opinions
And these consequences border on
The compound that you race will sell it say, hey hey
Pay attention, pay attention
Sign the papers, stamp the ribbon
You're mistaken if you think we'll just forget
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
We're the children fo the choir, hey
And we know what's going on
Had us cheering in the kitchen
Now the jury's eating pigeon pie
So tell me how is prison
Have they taught you how to listen
We've begun to bridge the schism
Pay attention, pay attention
Pay attention, pay attention
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
We're the children fo the choir, hey
From the compond fire, hey
And we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
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Obviously Michael is showing extreme derision for this political character Mr. Richards. In my mind I reconcile the personna of the title-character as being Richard Perle, an arch-conservative architect of the Iraqi war in the Dept. of Defense who worked directly with Wolfowitz, Cheney, and Rumsfeld in bringing about Bush's folly in the ME. He (Perle) has since back-pedaled from this poistion, saying that at the time it was the right choice to make but regretfully he was wrong. Well thanks a whole f'in' lot "Mr. Richards."
I believe the judicial references in this song really are about the court of public opinion which has since found all those original planners of this war (mentioned above) guilty, despite their own recantations that, at the time, they were only doing what they fel was best for the country/world.
Its not about Kramer. It's pretty obvious its a political message towards Dick Cheney.
I had some thoughts on the following lines:
it's about Cheney = Stipe said so @ Merriweather Post Pavillion 6-11-2008. Went to my ~20th REM show there last week. My first one in 8 years.
I have to say that though the last REM show I saw was shit, this one ROCKED! Little America for the first time LIVE and Driver 8 for just the second. I even heard they played "Pilgrimage" at the show in NC the night before.
The more I listen to this album the more and more I like. As a very old REM fan, if you have a chance to see this tour you MUST. Make sure to stay for the encore - Johhny Marr jumps in.
peacefrogx, that makes more sense than my interpretation. I thought it was about Michael Richards, aka Kramer. As disgusting as his comments were, I thought the tone of this song was a bit too harsh if referring to that.
I had thought of the michael richards link too - especially the line about 'stand in front of your piano'. 'youre forgiven for a narrow lack of vision' could be about richards racist outburst. maybe its about both a perle type figure and michael richards.
I had my fingers crossed that it was Keith Richards. But he hasn't done time in decades. The Michael Richards thing would make sense. But as the first comment stated, it must be about the bush administration guy. Obviously because Michael Stipe is anti-Bush.
good song, but the lyrics irritate me. if Mr. Richards isn't the guy's real name, why the pseudonym?
worse yet, if it's about Cheney, then it comes off really, really wimpy, like they're too afraid of the guy to call him out by his real name.
Plus, if it's about the Cheney, guess what? He's not in prison!