R.E.M.

Released: November 7, 1988

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

Producer: R.E.M. Scott Litt

[Verse 1]
I sit at my table and wage war on myself
It seems like it's all, it's all for nothing
I know the barricades and I know the mortar in the wall breaks
I recognize the weapons, I've used them well

[Chorus]
This is my mistake, let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down

[Verse 2]
I've a rich understanding of my finest defenses
I proclaim that claims are left unstated, I demand a rematch
I decree a stalemate, I divine my deeper motives
I recognize the weapons, I've practiced them well
I fitted them myself

[Chorus]
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (Empathize)
This is my mistake, let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down

[Bridge]
Reach out for me and hold me tight
Hold that memory, let my machine talk to me
Let my machine talk to me

[Verse 3]
This is my world and I am the World Leader Pretend
This is my life and this is my time
I have been given the freedom to do as I see fit
It's high time I raised the walls that I've constructed

[Chorus]
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (Empathize)
This is my mistake, let me make it good
I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down

[Outro]
You fill in the mortar, you fill in the harmony
You fill in the mortar, I raised the wall
And I'm the only one, I will be the one to knock it down

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.

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