R.E.M.

Released: July 28, 1986

Songwriter: Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Michael Stipe

Producer: Don Gehman

[Verse 1]
When I was young and full of grace
And spirited a rattlesnake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor not to tell
I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract
Explain the change, the difference between
What you want and what you need, there's the key
Your adventure for today, what do you do
Between the horns of the day?

[Chorus]
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe

[Verse 2]
When I was young and give and take
And foolish said my fool awake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor, on your honor
Trust in your calling, make sure your calling's true
Think of others, the others think of you
Silly rule golden words make
Practice, practice makes perfect
Perfect is a fault and fault lines change

[Chorus]
I believe, my humor's wearing thin
And change is what I believe in
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe

[Verse 3]
When I was young and full of grace
And spirited a rattlesnake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor, on you're honor
I believe in example, I believe my throat hurts
Example is the checker to the key

[Chorus]
I believe, my humor's wearing thin
And I believe the poles are shifting
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe in

R.E.M. were an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry.

Berry quit the band in April 1997, as they were getting together to record demos for the album Up. He was not replaced on a permanent basis, but the band used an assortment of drummers in his place.

more tracks from the album

And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987

From the albums

Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
The Best of R.E.M. (1991)
And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987 (2006)
Lifes Rich Pageant (2011 Reissue) (2011)

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And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987