R.E.M.

Released: June 23, 2009

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

[Verse 1]
The walls constructed, stone by stone
The fields divided one by one
And the train conductor says, "Take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break, we've been on this shift too long"

[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
"Take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
But we're still a ways away"

[Verse 2]
I saw a treehouse on the outskirts of the farm
The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged
The bells are ringing through the town again
The children look up, all they hear is sky-blue bells ringing

[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
"Take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
But we're still a ways away"
(But it's still a ways away)
But we're still a ways away
(But it's still a ways away)

[Bridge]
A way to shield the hated heat
A way to put myself to sleep
A way to shield the hated heat
A way to put myself, my children to sleep

[Verse 3]
He piloted this song in a plane like that one
She is selling faith on the Go Tell crusade
Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again
The fields the wheat is lookin' thin

[Chorus]
And the train conductor says
"Take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break
We've been on this shift too long"
And the train conductor says
"Take a break, Driver 8
Driver 8, take a break
We can reach our destination
But we're still a ways away"
(But it's still a ways away)
But we're still a ways away
(But it's still a ways away)

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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