Released: April 27, 1987
Songwriter: Michael Stipe Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Peter Buck Bill Berry
Producer: Don Dixon Mitch Easter
[Verse 1]
From the back of my neck, oh, oh, oh
Wired a glass jaw, oh, oh
Plantation burning, your boat is coming in
Strum your jew's harp, you're reeking gin
[Pre-Chorus]
Running water on a sinking boat
Going under, but they've got your goat
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
[Verse 2]
Johnny Mike is reading in the yard
His story's timely, oh oh oh
What river is it anyway, radio
Not in a boat, in your ear
[Pre-Chorus]
Running water on a sinking boat
Going under, but they've got your goat
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
[Bridge]
You pick your island in the sun
Take your island off he's got a gun
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
[Verse 3]
He's cooking in the woods, a brush fire in your neck
Feeling mighty mighty, oh, oh, oh
You can pick your island in the sun
Take your island off, he's got a gun
[Pre-Chorus]
Running water on a sinking boat
Going under, but they've got your goat
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
From the back of my neck, oh, oh, oh
Wired a glass jaw, oh, oh
Plantation burning, your boat is coming in
Strum your jew's harp, you're reeking gin
[Pre-Chorus]
Running water on a sinking boat
Going under, but they've got your goat
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
[Verse 2]
Johnny Mike is reading in the yard
His story's timely, oh oh oh
What river is it anyway, radio
Not in a boat, in your ear
[Pre-Chorus]
Running water on a sinking boat
Going under, but they've got your goat
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
[Bridge]
You pick your island in the sun
Take your island off he's got a gun
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
[Verse 3]
He's cooking in the woods, a brush fire in your neck
Feeling mighty mighty, oh, oh, oh
You can pick your island in the sun
Take your island off, he's got a gun
[Pre-Chorus]
Running water on a sinking boat
Going under, but they've got your goat
[Chorus]
Burning down
My hands are tied, my feet are bound
Burning down
Can't you see that my hands are bound?
Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982–1987
- Pretty Persuasion
- Finest Worksong [Other Mix]
- Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single)
- Bad Day (Outtake)
- Finest Worksong (Mutual Drum Horn Mix)
- White Tornado
- Maps & Legends [Live]
- Tired of Singing Trouble
- Gardening at night - different vocal mix
- All I Have to Do Is Dream [cover]
- Sitting Still (Original Hib-Tone single B-side)
- Gardening at Night (acoustic)
- Tighten Up
- The One I Love (Live)
- Swan Swan H (Acoustic)
- Last Date
- Romance
- Moon River
- Crazy
- There She Goes Again
- Burning Down
- Voice of Harold
- Burning Hell
- Toys In The Attic
- Ages of You
- Pale Blue Eyes
- Femme Fatale
- Walters Theme
- King of the Road
- Disturbance at the Heron House
- Just a Touch
- Time After Time Etc.
- Dead Letter Office (1987)
- Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982–1987 (2014)
- 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