R.E.M.

Released: July 28, 1986

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

Producer: Don Gehman

Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Myles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe

Life's rich demand creates supply in the hand
Of the powers, the only vote that matters
Silence means security, silence means approval
Watching zenith on the TV, tiger run around the tree
Follow the leader, run and turn into butter

Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again like Martin Luther, Zen
The mythology begins the begin

Answer me a question, I can't itemize, I can't think clearly
Look to me for reason, it's not there
I can't even rhyme in the begin
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Example, the finest example is you

A birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me

A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again

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.

more tracks from the album

Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011

From the albums

Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987 (2006)
Lifes Rich Pageant (2011 Reissue) (2011)
Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011 (2011)
Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy (2020)

R.E.M. popular songs

Begin the BeginR.E.M.

R.E.M.

Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011