Released: November 7, 1988
Songwriter: Michael Stipe Peter Buck Bill Berry Mike Mills (R.E.M.)
Producer: R.E.M. Scott Litt
[Verse 1]
I've watched the children come and go
A late long march into spring
I sit and watch those children
Jump in the tall grass
Leap the sprinkler
Walk in the ground
Bicycle clothespin spokes
The sound, the smell of swingset hands
I will try to sing a happy song
I'll try and make a happy game to play
Come play with me I whispered to my new found friend
Tell me what it's like to go outside
I've never been
Tell me what it's like to just go outside
I've never been
And I never will
[Chorus]
And I'm not supposed to be like this
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it's okay
[Verse 3]
Hey, those kids are looking at me
I told my friend myself
Those kids are looking at me
They're laughing and they're running over here
They're laughing and they're running over here
[Bridge]
What do I do?
What can I do?
What should I do?
What do I say?
What can I say?
[Chorus]
I said I'm not supposed to be like this
Let's try to find a happy game to play[x2]
[Outro]
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it's okay, okay
I've watched the children come and go
A late long march into spring
I sit and watch those children
Jump in the tall grass
Leap the sprinkler
Walk in the ground
Bicycle clothespin spokes
The sound, the smell of swingset hands
I will try to sing a happy song
I'll try and make a happy game to play
Come play with me I whispered to my new found friend
Tell me what it's like to go outside
I've never been
Tell me what it's like to just go outside
I've never been
And I never will
[Chorus]
And I'm not supposed to be like this
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it's okay
[Verse 3]
Hey, those kids are looking at me
I told my friend myself
Those kids are looking at me
They're laughing and they're running over here
They're laughing and they're running over here
[Bridge]
What do I do?
What can I do?
What should I do?
What do I say?
What can I say?
[Chorus]
I said I'm not supposed to be like this
Let's try to find a happy game to play[x2]
[Outro]
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it's okay, okay
- Green (1988)
- 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