Released: October 27, 2003
Songwriter: Peter Buck Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Bill Berry Michael Stipe
Producer: R.E.M. Pat McCarthy
[Verse 1]
A public service announcement followed me home the other day
I paid it never mind, go away
Shit so thick you could stir it with a stick-free Teflon whitewashed presidency
We're sick of being jerked around
Wear that on your sleeve
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down
[Verse 2]
Have you ever seen the televised St. Vitus subcommittee prize investigation dance?
Those-ants-in-pants glances
Well, look behind the eyes
It's a hallowed, hollow, anesthetized "save my own ass, screw these guys"
Smoke-and-mirror lockdown
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
The papers wouldn't lie!
I sigh, not one more
[Chorus 2]
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
[Verse 3]
We're dug in deep, the price is steep
The auctioneer is such a creep
The lights went out, the oil ran dry
We blamed it on the other guy
Sure, all men are created equal
Here's the church, here's the steeple
Please stay tuned, we cut to sequel
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
[Pre-Chorus 3]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
Ignore the lower fears
Oh, this means war
[Chorus]
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
[Ad lib]
(Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du)
[Pre-Chorus 4]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down
[Chorus]
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
[Ad lib]
(Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du)
A public service announcement followed me home the other day
I paid it never mind, go away
Shit so thick you could stir it with a stick-free Teflon whitewashed presidency
We're sick of being jerked around
Wear that on your sleeve
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down
[Verse 2]
Have you ever seen the televised St. Vitus subcommittee prize investigation dance?
Those-ants-in-pants glances
Well, look behind the eyes
It's a hallowed, hollow, anesthetized "save my own ass, screw these guys"
Smoke-and-mirror lockdown
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
The papers wouldn't lie!
I sigh, not one more
[Chorus 2]
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
[Verse 3]
We're dug in deep, the price is steep
The auctioneer is such a creep
The lights went out, the oil ran dry
We blamed it on the other guy
Sure, all men are created equal
Here's the church, here's the steeple
Please stay tuned, we cut to sequel
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down
[Pre-Chorus 3]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
Ignore the lower fears
Oh, this means war
[Chorus]
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
[Ad lib]
(Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du)
[Pre-Chorus 4]
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down
[Chorus]
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
[Ad lib]
(Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du
Du-du du du du)
In Time - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
- Everybody Hurts
- The Great Beyond
- All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)
- 2JN
- Country Feedback (Live from Wiesbaden, Germany / 2003)
- Drive (Live from Atlanta / 1992)
- Chance (Dub)
- The Lifting (Demo)
- Fretless
- It’s A Free World Baby
- Revolution
- Leave (Alt. Version)
- Star Me Kitten (Alternate Version)
- Pop Song 89 (Acoustic Version)
- Animal
- Daysleeper
- Orange Crush
- What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
- Losing My Religion
- Man on the Moon
- Nightswimming
- Bad Day
- All the Right Friends
- Stand
- The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
- E-Bow the Letter
- Electrolite
- At My Most Beautiful
- Imitation of Life
- Turn You Inside-Out (Live from Orlando / 1989)
- 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