Lyric discussion by Low Feedback 

Cover art for Tongue lyrics by R.E.M.

There's obivously a scene of sex taking place, and some abuse between two people. The narrator is a girl, and to me it seems like she's too weak to leave the relationship, but she knows that it seems to be more and more about having sex. The passion and the sparks of being together has been burned out, but she can't make herself leave, maybe because she feels bad for the other part, but at the same time she realize that she should move on (second verse). A beautiful song. Love the way Michael's falsetto takes this one away.