Released: September 9, 1996

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

Producer: Scott Litt R.E.M.

[Verse 1]
I know what I wanted
I know what I wanted
I know how I wanted this to be
You go down to the water
Drink down of the water
Walk up off the water, leave it be
But this is not my dream, sister
It is cold in Heaven
I'm not sprouting wings

[Chorus]
I'm drowning me
I'm drowning me, yeah

[Verse 2]
Brother, can you see those birds?
They don't look to Heaven
But they don't need religion, they can see
They go down to the water
Drink down of the water
Fly up off the water, leave them be
But this is not my time, sister
It is cold in Heaven
And no one's coming after me

[Chorus]
I'm drowning me (Breathing ourselves)
I'm drowning me (Breathing ourselves)

[Verse 3]
You know I am tired
Cold and bony tired
Nothing's gonna save me, I can see
I can't say I'm fearful
I can't say I'm not afraid
But I am not resisting, I can see
Now, I don't need a heaven
And I don't need religion
I am in the place where I should be
I am breathing water
I am breathing water
You know a body's got to breathe

[Chorus]
I'm drowning me (Breathing ourselves, breathing ourselves)
I'm drowning me (Breathing ourselves)
I'm drowning me, yeah (Breathing ourselves, breathing ourselves)
I'm drowning me (Breathing ourselves)

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.