These Days Lyrics

Lyric discussion by gilbert113 

Cover art for These Days lyrics by R.E.M.

The "scales" in "I will rearrange your scales ..." are not the scales of an animal, but the scales used to weigh things. Michael is claiming that he will change the way we evaluate and judge things.

My Opinion
Positive
Objective
Appreciation
Judgment
Perception
Change
Evaluation
Scales

@gilbert113 Good summation. I have always thought that it was about re-arranging the scales on an animal-type figure of some kind. But I believe you have actually nailed it (just as someone else here did too possibly before you did).