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The Lifting Lyrics

Grounded 5am, the nitelite is comforting
But gravity is holding you
Once settled into sleep you have watched, on repeat
The story of you life across the ceiling
And in review

You've said the air was singing, it's calling you
You don't believe these things you've never seen

"Good Morning, and how are you?
The weather's fine, the sky is blue
It's perfect for our seminar..."

"Now close your eyes and start to breathe
All the noise to recede, allow yourself to drift and fly away"
But you just stay

You've said the air was singing, it's calling you
You don't believe these things you've never seen
Never dreamed...did you hear the voices calling?

Locked into the conference room
"We're only what our minds assume..."
And rationale is leaving you
This conceit, these systems of belief your counselor agrees
"You've always marked your boundaries,
Now you're free..." and with relief

You've said the air was singing, it's calling you
You don't believe these things you've never seen
Never heard, never dreamed
You've said the air was singing, it's calling you
You don't believe these things you've never seen
Never, never, never...

Once you had a dream of oceans and sunken cities
Memories of things you've never known
And you have never known
9 Meanings

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Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

I disagree that the 'counselor' is in the protagonists mind - I think they are in some crappy business seminar about being a better, more productive person or something Radiohead-esque like that, and they are reflecting on a real revelation they have had, rather than the faux-revelations offered by the seminar they are attending.

I love the last lines, hints at the unknown, Atlantis, things hidden just beyond our sight... great. I wish more of Reveal was like this song.

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

This song is about someone whose life hasn't taken the path he wanted. The sections in quotes are from "the counselor" referred to in the song, who is this new voice in the guy's mind telling him to leave his pragmatic thought and be more free in his life and follow his dreams.

Wonderful, beautiful song (with obvious meaning to the lyrics), I don't know why nobody has commented.

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

Yeah, I really love the mood of the song. The title fits it perfectly.

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

This beautiful song is about a man who does his best to adopt to the modern world rubbish, new age etc but fails to do so, because he is very down to earth. The counselor says "we are what our minds assume" and "you've always marked these boundaries, now you're free" mean that this guy just doesnt go with the others, because he knows he is not what his mind assumes, his grasp of reality is so real, thats why he "just stay"s. He cannot fool himself, he just cant let go....

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

i always thought it was about a rationalist who ,deep inside, still feels spiritual.

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

I've heard somewhere that this song is supposed to be about the same character from "Daysleeper". I guess I can kind of see the connection.

http://www.freewebs.com/thejakesite

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

The alternate version is much superior. Shows this would've been a much better album w/ a different production approach :)

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

I agree, the alternative version is far superior.

I take it as just a series of dreams while on a business trip.

Cover art for The Lifting lyrics by R.E.M.

I prefer the official version--just, and mostly for the intro--but the demo has a better line: "You think you've felt the lifting". I love the final verse in both.

My Opinion
 
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