Released: June 10, 1985
Songwriter: Michael Stipe Peter Buck Bill Berry Mike Mills (R.E.M.)
Producer: Joe Boyd
[Verse 1]
The wheelbarrow's fallen
Look at my hands
They've found some surplus cheaper hands
Rubbing palms and pick and choose
Who will they choose?
Here is the news
[Verse 2]
Look at that building
Look at this man
Haloed and whitewashed
Gone to find a cheaper hand
He'll offer a pound
Offer a pound
[Chorus]
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
The compass points the workers home
[Verse 3]
Pay for your freedom
Or find another gate
Guilt by associate
The rushes wilted a long time ago
Guilty as you go
[Verse 4]
Stay off that highway
Word is, it's not so safe
The grasses that hide the greenback
The amber waves of gain again
The amber waves of grain
[Chorus]
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
The compass points the workers home
[Outro]
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
[Outro]
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
The wheelbarrow's fallen
Look at my hands
They've found some surplus cheaper hands
Rubbing palms and pick and choose
Who will they choose?
Here is the news
[Verse 2]
Look at that building
Look at this man
Haloed and whitewashed
Gone to find a cheaper hand
He'll offer a pound
Offer a pound
[Chorus]
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
The compass points the workers home
[Verse 3]
Pay for your freedom
Or find another gate
Guilt by associate
The rushes wilted a long time ago
Guilty as you go
[Verse 4]
Stay off that highway
Word is, it's not so safe
The grasses that hide the greenback
The amber waves of gain again
The amber waves of grain
[Chorus]
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
The compass points the workers home
[Outro]
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
[Outro]
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
La-la-la la la lye (Green grow the rushes go)
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