Released: October 5, 1992

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

Producer: Scott Litt R.E.M.

[Verse 1]
Monty, this seems strange to me
The movies had that movie thing
But nonsense has a welcome ring
And heroes don't come easily
Now, nonsense isn't new to me
I know my head, I know my feet
But mischief knocked me in the knees
So, just let go
Just let go
I saw the ocean meet the man
I saw you buried in the sand
A friend was there to hold your hand
Said, walk on by
So, I went walking through the street
I saw you strung up in a tree
A woman knelt there said to me
Said, hold your tongue
Hold your tongue

[Chorus]
You don't owe me anything
You don't want this sympathy (Waste your breath)
Don't you waste your breath (Waste your breath)
For the silver screen

[Verse 2]
That nonsense doesn't mean a thing
They tried to bust you in a sting
But virtue isn't everything
So, don't waste time
Now, here's a rhyme that you can steal
Put this on your reel to reel
Mischief threw a rotten deal
Monty's laying low
He is laying low
Just let go
Just let go

[Chorus]
You don't owe me anything
You don't want this sympathy (Waste your breath)
Don't you waste your breath (Waste your breath)
Monty, this seems strange to me

R.E.M.

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

Complete Rarities: Warner Bros. 1988–2011