R.E.M.

Released: October 19, 2019

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

[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]
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize
Empathise
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 the 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, use them myself

[Chorus]
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize
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
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
This is my time
I have been given the freedom to do as I see fit
It's high time I razed the walls that I've constructed

[Chorus]
It's amazing what devices you can sympathize
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.

more tracks from the album

R.E.M. at the BBC

From the album

R.E.M. at the BBC (2018)

R.E.M. popular songs

World Leader Pretend - Live From Into the Night on BBC RadioR.E.M.

R.E.M.

R.E.M. at the BBC