R.E.M.

Released: October 26, 1998

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

Producer: R.E.M. Pat McCarthy

[Verse 1]
I'll take the position
Assume the missionary part
You work by committee
You had me pegged from the start
I'll be pounce pony
Phoney maroney
Pony before the cart
I'll be pounce pony
This ceremony
Only fills my heart

[Chorus]
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

[Verse 2]
A punch toy volunteer
A weakling on its knee
Is all you want to hear
And all you want to see
Romantically, you'd martyr me
And miss this story's point
It is my strength, my destiny
This is the role that I have chosen

[Chorus]
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

[Verse 3]
Gentlemen mark your opponents
Fire into your own ranks
Pick the weakest as strategic move
Square off to meet your enemy
For each and every gathering
A scapegoat falls to climb
As I step forward, silently
Deliberately mine

[Chorus]
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me? Why not me?
Had consequence chose differently
Had fate its ugly head
My actions make me beautiful
And dignify the flesh
Me. I am free. Free

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

Up

From the album

Up (1998)

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R.E.M.

Up