Released: April 9, 1984
Songwriter: Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Peter Buck Michael Stipe Bill Berry
Producer: Mitch Easter Don Dixon
[Verse 1: Michael Stipe]
They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy, if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood pushed through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads 'react'
[Verse 2: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They've shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
(Laocoön is host)
Reddened their necks and collared their clothes
(The library hollowed)
Then we ditched the books with the middles cut out
(Friendly harbor ghosts)
She gathered the corners and collared her gown
(She wanted to tell it to you)
She said
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
[Verse 3: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
(Tell her I will send hers ahead)
A handshake is worthy, if it's all that you've got
(You'll have done no wrong)
Metal shivs on wood pushed through our back
(Would I kiss her ass?)
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads 'react'
(Would I read the signs?)
R-E-A-C-T
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
[Verse 4: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They've shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
(With your feathers in)
Reddened their necks and collared their clothes
(You'll have done no wrong)
Then we danced the dance 'til the menace got out
(Friendly harbor ghosts)
She gathered the corners and collared her gown
(She went to tell her son)
She said
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy, if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood pushed through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads 'react'
[Verse 2: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They've shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
(Laocoön is host)
Reddened their necks and collared their clothes
(The library hollowed)
Then we ditched the books with the middles cut out
(Friendly harbor ghosts)
She gathered the corners and collared her gown
(She wanted to tell it to you)
She said
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
[Verse 3: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
(Tell her I will send hers ahead)
A handshake is worthy, if it's all that you've got
(You'll have done no wrong)
Metal shivs on wood pushed through our back
(Would I kiss her ass?)
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads 'react'
(Would I read the signs?)
R-E-A-C-T
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
[Verse 4: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They've shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
(With your feathers in)
Reddened their necks and collared their clothes
(You'll have done no wrong)
Then we danced the dance 'til the menace got out
(Friendly harbor ghosts)
She gathered the corners and collared her gown
(She went to tell her son)
She said
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
Reckoning (Deluxe Edition)
- Harborcoat
- Gardening At Night (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- 9-9 (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Windout (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Letter Never Sent (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Driver 8 (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- So. Central Rain (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- 7 Chinese Bros. (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Harborcoat (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Pretty Persuasion (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Radio Free Europe (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Femme Fatale (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- 7 Chinese Bros.
- So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
- Pretty Persuasion
- Time After Time (Annelise)
- Second Guessing
- Letter Never Sent
- Camera
- (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville
- Little America
- (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville (Live / 1984 Aragon Ballroom)
- Reckoning (1984)
- Reckoning (Deluxe Edition) (2009)
- 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