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

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.