Released: October 5, 1992
Songwriter: Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Michael Stipe
Producer: Scott Litt R.E.M.
[Verse 1]
These bastards stole their power from
The victims of the us v. them years
Wrecking all things virtuous and true
The undermining social democratic
Downhill slide into abysmal
Lost lamb off the precipice into
The trickle down run-off pool
[Pre-Chorus]
They hypnotized the summer
1979
Marched into the capital
Brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready
Heartless and labeled, super U.S. citizen, super achiever
Mega ultra power dosing, relax defense, defense, defense, defense
Yeah, yeah, yeah, fuck
[Chorus]
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
The information nation took
Their clues from all the sound-bite gluttons
1980, '84, '88
'92 too, too
How to be what you can be
Jump jam junking your energies
How to walk in dignity
With throw-up on your shoes
[Pre-Chorus]
They amplified the autumn
1979
Calculate the capital
Up the republic my skinny ass, TV tells a million lies
The paper's terrified to report, anything that isn't handed
On a presidential spoon, I'm just profoundly frustrated
By all this, so fuck you, man
[Chorus]
(Fuck 'em)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
[Bridge]
If they weren't there we would have created them
Maybe, it is true
But I'm resentful all the same
Someone's got to take the blame
[Verse 3]
I know that this is vitriol
No solution, spleen-venting
But I feel better having screamed
Don't you?
[Pre-Chorus]
They desecrate the winter
1979
Capital collateral
Brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready
Heartless and labeled, super U.S. citizen, super achiever
Mega ultra power dosing, relax, defense, defense, defense, defense
Yeah, yeah, yeah, fuck
[Chorus]
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Outro]
(And that takes us out of the record, and into the revolution. Take it.)
These bastards stole their power from
The victims of the us v. them years
Wrecking all things virtuous and true
The undermining social democratic
Downhill slide into abysmal
Lost lamb off the precipice into
The trickle down run-off pool
[Pre-Chorus]
They hypnotized the summer
1979
Marched into the capital
Brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready
Heartless and labeled, super U.S. citizen, super achiever
Mega ultra power dosing, relax defense, defense, defense, defense
Yeah, yeah, yeah, fuck
[Chorus]
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
The information nation took
Their clues from all the sound-bite gluttons
1980, '84, '88
'92 too, too
How to be what you can be
Jump jam junking your energies
How to walk in dignity
With throw-up on your shoes
[Pre-Chorus]
They amplified the autumn
1979
Calculate the capital
Up the republic my skinny ass, TV tells a million lies
The paper's terrified to report, anything that isn't handed
On a presidential spoon, I'm just profoundly frustrated
By all this, so fuck you, man
[Chorus]
(Fuck 'em)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
[Bridge]
If they weren't there we would have created them
Maybe, it is true
But I'm resentful all the same
Someone's got to take the blame
[Verse 3]
I know that this is vitriol
No solution, spleen-venting
But I feel better having screamed
Don't you?
[Pre-Chorus]
They desecrate the winter
1979
Capital collateral
Brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready
Heartless and labeled, super U.S. citizen, super achiever
Mega ultra power dosing, relax, defense, defense, defense, defense
Yeah, yeah, yeah, fuck
[Chorus]
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) Ignoreland
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Outro]
(And that takes us out of the record, and into the revolution. Take it.)
Automatic for the People [25th Anniversary Edition]
- Everybody Hurts
- 10k Minimal (Demo)
- Peter’s New Song (Demo)
- Eastern 983111 (Demo)
- Bill’s Acoustic (Demo)
- Arabic Feedback (Demo)
- Howler Monkey (Demo)
- Pakiderm (Demo)
- Afterthought (Demo)
- Bazouki Song (Demo)
- Photograph (Demo)
- Michael’s Organ (Demo)
- Peter’s Acoustic Idea (Demo)
- 6-8 Passion & Voc (Demo)
- Cello Scud (Demo)
- C To D Slide 13 (Demo)
- Wake Her Up (Demo)
- Man on the Moon
- Nightswimming
- Sweetness Follows
- Try Not to Breathe
- Drive
- The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
- Monty Got a Raw Deal
- Ignoreland
- Star Me Kitten
- Find the River
- New Orleans Instrumental No. 1
- Devil Rides Backwards (Demo)
- Mike’s Pop Song (Demo)
- Drive (Demo)
- 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