Released: November 16, 1999
Songwriter: Peter Buck Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Michael Stipe
Producer: R.E.M. Pat McCarthy
[Verse 1]
I've watched the stars fall silent from your eyes
All the sights that I have seen
I can't believe that I believed
I wished that you could see
There's a new planet in the solar system
There is nothing up my sleeve
[Refrain]
I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground
[Verse 2]
In all this talk of time, talk is fine
But I don't want to stay around
Why can't we pantomime
Just close our eyes and sleep sweet dreams
Me and you with wings on our feet
[Refrain]
I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground
[Chorus]
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
[Verse 3]
I want the humming birds, the dancing bears
Sweetest dreams of you
I look into the stars
I look into the moon
[Refrain]
I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground
[Chorus]
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great
Answers from the great
Answers
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
(Here's a little agit for the never-believer)
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
(Here's a little ghost for the offering)
I'm looking for answers from the great
Answers from the great
Answers
[Outro]
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
I've watched the stars fall silent from your eyes
All the sights that I have seen
I can't believe that I believed
I wished that you could see
There's a new planet in the solar system
There is nothing up my sleeve
[Refrain]
I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground
[Verse 2]
In all this talk of time, talk is fine
But I don't want to stay around
Why can't we pantomime
Just close our eyes and sleep sweet dreams
Me and you with wings on our feet
[Refrain]
I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground
[Chorus]
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
[Verse 3]
I want the humming birds, the dancing bears
Sweetest dreams of you
I look into the stars
I look into the moon
[Refrain]
I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs
I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground
[Chorus]
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great
Answers from the great
Answers
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
(Here's a little agit for the never-believer)
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
(Here's a little ghost for the offering)
I'm looking for answers from the great
Answers from the great
Answers
[Outro]
I'm breaking through, I'm bending spoons
I'm keeping flowers in full bloom
I'm looking for answers from the great beyond
Complete Rarities: Warner Bros. 1988–2011
- Pretty Persuasion (Live at the Olympia)
- West of the Fields (Live from London)
- Fall On Me (Live from London)
- Supernatural Superserious (Live from London)
- Hollow Man (Live from London)
- Auctioneer (Live from London)
- Living Well is the Best Revenge (Live from London)
- Shiny Happy People (Hip Mix)
- Shiny Happy People (Pop Mix)
- You Are the Everything (Live in Greensboro, 1989)
- Turn You Inside-Out (Live from Orlando / 1989)
- Losing My Religion - Live in Dublin / 2005
- King of Comedy (Remix)
- Mandolin Strum
- Shiny Happy People (Dance to the Music Mix)
- Pop Song 89 (Acoustic Version)
- Horse to Water (Live from London)
- Man-Sized Wreath (Live from London)
- Man On the Moon (Live from London)
- Second Guessing (Live at the Olympia)
- Letter Never Sent (Live at the Olympia)
- Harborcoat (Live at the Olympia)
- Horse to Water (Live in Vancouver)
- Sweetness Follows (Live in Cincinnati, October 27, 2004)
- Wanderlust (Live in Santa Barbara, CA, 2004)
- (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville (Live in Oslo NRK P1 National Radio, October 25, 2003)
- These Days (Live in Toronto, September 30, 2003)
- Drive (Live, 1994)
- Love is All Around (Live)
- Losing My Religion (Acoustic Live at KFOG, San Francisco)
- The One I Love (Live in Sydney)
- That Someone Is You (Live at Hansa Studios)
- Houston (Live in London)
- Mr. Richards (Live in Vancouver)
- Star Me Kitten (Alternate Version)
- Funtime (Live in Athens, 1992)
- Orange Crush (Instrumental)
- Chance (Dub)
- Funtime
- Yellow River
- Redhead Walking
- Dark Globe
- Favorite Writer
- First We Take Manhattan
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight
- Ghost Rider
- Love Is All Around
- Sponge
- Wall of Death
- 2JN
- Arms of Love
- The Great Beyond
- The Lifting (Demo)
- Fretless
- It’s A Free World Baby
- Nola-4/26/10
- Indian Summer
- Adagio (Unused Tune)
- Out In The Country
- 165 Hillcrest
- Surfing The Ganges
- Emphysema
- Tricycle
- Rotary Eleven
- Skin Tight
- Memphis Train Blues
- Leave (Alt. Version)
- Winged Mammal Theme
- Revolution
- Wichita Lineman (Live)
- Monty Got a Raw Deal
- 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