Released: July 28, 1986

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

Producer: Don Gehman

[Verse 1: Michael Stipe]
There's the problem, feathers, iron
Bargain buildings, weights and pulleys
Feathers hit the ground
Before the weight can leave the air

[Pre-Chorus 1: Michael Stipe]
Buy the sky and sell the sky
And tell the sky, and tell the sky

[Chorus: Michael Stipe/Mike Mills]
Don't fall on me (What is it up in the air for?)
Fall on me (If it's there for long)
Fall on me (It's over, it's over me)

[Verse 2: Michael Stipe]
There’s the progress we have found (When the rain)
A way to talk around the problem (When the children reign)
Building towered foresight (Keep your conscience in the dark)
Isn’t anything at all (Melt the statues in the park)

[Pre-Chorus 2: Michael Stipe]
Buy the sky and sell the sky
And bleed the sky and tell the sky

[Chorus]
Don't fall on me (What is it up in the air for?)
Fall on me (If it's there for long)
Fall on me (It's over, it's over me)
Fall on me

[Bridge: Mike Mills]
Well, I would keep it above
But then it wouldn't be sky anymore
So, if I send it to you
You've got to promise to keep it home

[Pre-Chorus 3: Michael Stipe]
Buy the sky and sell the sky
And lift your arms up to the sky
And ask the sky and ask the sky

[Chorus: Michael Stipe/Mike Mills/Bill Berry]
Don't fall on me (What is it up in the air for?) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me (If it's there for long) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me (It's over, it's over me) (It’s gonna fall)
Don't fall on me (What is it up in the air for?) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me (If it's there for long) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me (It's over, it's over me) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me
Don't fall on me (What is it up in the air for?) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me (If it's there for long) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me (It's over, it's over me) (It’s gonna fall)
Fall on me

R.E.M.

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.