Released: September 1, 1985
Songwriter: Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Michael Stipe
Producer: Joe Boyd
[Verse 1]
The walls are built up, stone by stone
The fields divided one by one
And the train conductor says, "take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break, we've been on this shift too long."
[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
(Driver 8) "Take a break, Driver 8
(Driver 8) Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
We're still a ways away."
(But it's still a ways away)
[Verse 2]
I saw a treehouse on the outskirts of the farm
The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged
The bells are ringing through the town again
The children look up, all they hear is sky-blue bells ringing
[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
(Driver 8) "Take a break, Driver 8
(Driver 8) Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
But we're still a ways away."
(But it's still a ways away)
But we're still a ways away
(But it's still a ways away)
[Bridge]
A way to shield the hated heat
A way to put myself to sleep
A way to shield the hated heat
A way to put myself, my children to sleep
[Verse 3]
He piloted this song in a plane like that one
She is selling faith on the Go Tell crusade
Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again
In the fields the wheat is lookin' thin
[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
(Driver 8) "Take a break, Driver 8
(Driver 8) Driver 8, take a break
We've been on this shift too long."
And the train conductor says
"Take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
We're still a ways away."
(But it's still a ways away)
But we're still a ways away
(But it's still a ways away)
The walls are built up, stone by stone
The fields divided one by one
And the train conductor says, "take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break, we've been on this shift too long."
[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
(Driver 8) "Take a break, Driver 8
(Driver 8) Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
We're still a ways away."
(But it's still a ways away)
[Verse 2]
I saw a treehouse on the outskirts of the farm
The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged
The bells are ringing through the town again
The children look up, all they hear is sky-blue bells ringing
[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
(Driver 8) "Take a break, Driver 8
(Driver 8) Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
But we're still a ways away."
(But it's still a ways away)
But we're still a ways away
(But it's still a ways away)
[Bridge]
A way to shield the hated heat
A way to put myself to sleep
A way to shield the hated heat
A way to put myself, my children to sleep
[Verse 3]
He piloted this song in a plane like that one
She is selling faith on the Go Tell crusade
Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again
In the fields the wheat is lookin' thin
[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
(Driver 8) "Take a break, Driver 8
(Driver 8) Driver 8, take a break
We've been on this shift too long."
And the train conductor says
"Take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
We're still a ways away."
(But it's still a ways away)
But we're still a ways away
(But it's still a ways away)
And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987
- It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
- Fall on Me
- Cuyahoga
- Finest Worksong
- Welcome to the Occupation
- Disturbance at the Heron House
- King of Birds
- I Believe
- (I Am) Superman
- Two Steps Onward (Athens Demo)
- Finest Worksong [Other Mix]
- Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single)
- Bad Day (Outtake)
- Mystery to Me
- Hyena (Athens Demo)
- Sitting Still (Original Hib-Tone single B-side)
- Swan Swan H (Acoustic)
- These Days
- Begin the Begin
- The One I Love
- Radio Free Europe
- Pilgrimage
- Talk About the Passion
- Perfect Circle
- 7 Chinese Bros.
- So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
- Pretty Persuasion
- Sitting Still
- Time After Time (Annelise)
- (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville
- Feeling Gravitys Pull
- Driver 8
- Life and How to Live It
- Cant Get There from Here
- Gardening at Night
- All The Right Friends (Studio Outtake)
- Losing My Religion
- It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
- Man on the Moon
- Everybody Hurts
- Orange Crush
- The One I Love
- Nightswimming
- The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
- Shiny Happy People
- What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
- Drive
- Imitation of Life
- Stand
- Find the River
- Radio Free Europe
- (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville
- E-Bow the Letter
- Country Feedback
- The Great Beyond
- Let Me In
- Fall on Me
- Try Not to Breathe
- So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
- Ignoreland