R.E.M.

Released: October 4, 2004

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

Producer: Pat McCarthy R.E.M.

[Verse 1]
You know where I come from, you know what I feel
You're Yul Brynner Westworld reporting from the field
I threw it into reverse, made a motion to repeal
You kicked my legs from under me and tried to take the wheel

[Chorus 1]
I told you I wanted to be wrong, but everyone is humming a song
That I don't understand

[Verse 2]
Now I know that the sun has shined on my side of the street
The basket of America, the weevils and the wheat
The milk and honeyed congregation, scrubbed and apple-cheeked
Salute Apollo 13 from the rattle jewelry seats

[Chorus 2]
Mythology's seductive and it turned a trick on me
That I have just begun to understand
I told you I wanted to be wrong, but everyone is humming a song
That I don't understand

[Verse 3]
The rodeo is staged, gold circle goat-ropers and clowns
A rumble in the third act, tie 'em up and burn 'em down
We're armed to the teeth, born a little breech
Blue-plate special analysts, cells and SUV's
We can't approach the Allies cause they seem a little peeved
And speak a language we don't understand

[Chorus 1]
I told you I wanted to be wrong, but everyone is humming a song
That I don't understand

[Outro]
Storm into the boardroom of the conquering elite
Did you recognize the madman who is shouting in the streets?
Destroy the things that I don't understand
Destroy the things that I don't understand

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

Around the Sun

From the album

Around the Sun (2004)

R.E.M. popular songs

I Wanted to Be WrongR.E.M.

R.E.M.

Around the Sun