Released: September 1, 1987
Songwriter: Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Michael Stipe
Producer: Scott Litt R.E.M.
[Verse 1]
Hang your collar up inside
Hang your dollar on me
Listen to the water still
Listen to the cause where you are
[Chorus 1]
Fed and educated
Primitive and wild
Welcome to the occupation
[Verse 2]
Here we stand and here we fight
All your fallen heroes
Held and dyed and skinned alive
Listen to the Congress fire
[Chorus 2]
Offering the educated
Primitive and loyal
Welcome to the occupation
[Verse 3]
Hang your collar up inside
Hang your freedom higher
Listen to the buyer still
Listen to the Congress
[Chorus 3]
Where we propagate confusion
Primitive and wild
Fire on the hemisphere below
[Instrumental bridge]
[Verse 4]
Sugar cane and coffee cup
Copper, steel and cattle
An annotated history
The forest for the fire
[Chorus 4]
Where we open up the floodgates
Freedom reigns supreme
Fire on the hemisphere below
[Outro]
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Hang your collar up inside
Hang your dollar on me
Listen to the water still
Listen to the cause where you are
[Chorus 1]
Fed and educated
Primitive and wild
Welcome to the occupation
[Verse 2]
Here we stand and here we fight
All your fallen heroes
Held and dyed and skinned alive
Listen to the Congress fire
[Chorus 2]
Offering the educated
Primitive and loyal
Welcome to the occupation
[Verse 3]
Hang your collar up inside
Hang your freedom higher
Listen to the buyer still
Listen to the Congress
[Chorus 3]
Where we propagate confusion
Primitive and wild
Fire on the hemisphere below
[Instrumental bridge]
[Verse 4]
Sugar cane and coffee cup
Copper, steel and cattle
An annotated history
The forest for the fire
[Chorus 4]
Where we open up the floodgates
Freedom reigns supreme
Fire on the hemisphere below
[Outro]
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
Listen to me
- 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