54 replies to this topic

[pAgeAntGirl]

I love it too. Surprisingly I skipped it for the first few days but then decided to give it a chance. The lyrics are brilliant. This is playing over and over in my head lately...

"You can thump your chest and rattle,
Stand in front of your piano,
But we know what's going on.
Yes we know what's going on.
We're the children of the choir, hey
and we know what's going on."

Love it.

[sea4sis]

I think the vocals sound like The Byrds' on Turn Turn Turn.

[genera seven]

I loved the song from first hearing it.

It reminds me of The Finest Worksong pumped up a little bit.

I like the words. They are mystical in a way, but also funny.

[sea4sis]

genera seven said:

I loved the song from first hearing it.

It reminds me of The Finest Worksong pumped up a little bit.

I like the words. They are mystical in a way, but also funny.

How are they mystical.

[wrong child- jr.]

Mr. Richards was my favorite song on Accelerate from the first listen, and still is. I love it!! Great harmonies. Great lyrics. It rocks! And it's a little different than everything else on the record.

:o)

[Boxcar]

plthom3 said:

Interesting comment.

There exists different loves for REM—and I think they all are fine. . .

I think that's a great point.  We all have different life experiences and can relate to certain REM songs more than others. Some fans catch on to REM songs quickly, others rediscover songs later in life, and then there are some REM songs that fans will never connect with--nothing wrong with that at all.

For me, I'm not a big fan of Mr. Richards.  The melody is boring (not catchy at all) and there are 10 other songs on the Album I would rather listen to before Mr. Richards.  I didn't like Submarine when I first heard it, but it's starting to catch on and is now one of my favs.  I loved SNSS and Hollow Man and Accelerate the first time I heard them.  Who knows what I'll prefer next week:)

[genera seven]

sea4sis said:

How are they mystical.

IN the song he is talking about knowing what's going on. He never says it though does he?;)

[crm114]

I think it's marvelous. On another thread I mentioned that, to me, it sounds a bit like some Revolver-era Beatles.

[goldberry]

"Mr Richards" is kind of wacky and "left of centre" REM (or should I say, even more left of centre REM).  I kind of like their quirkier numbers, like Tongue off "Monster".  So "Mr Richards" would probably be in my top 3 songs off this album.

It's like some of the quirkier tracks off "Up", but without the over-use of keyboards.  Considering the love for "Up" around these parts, I'm surprised that "Mr Richards" is not more popular here.

:)

[Annaleah'sCamera]

Well, haha... I do like the song but have a request.  In this Mr. Richards appreciation thread, can anyone take on the project of going through the lyrics and sharing what the lyrics are saying to you?  (opinions are great)

I am really new to interpreting REM lyrics and this one is making me think because I'm missing something relevant (or maybe even the bigger piece) and need to know what someone else gets from the lyrics...    

My best friend would usually have the entire political story and who did it, where they are, and what the consequences are etc...  and she isn't here to give me her interpretation...

Any volunteers?  Please :)

[genera seven]

Annaleah said:

Well, haha... I do like the song but have a request.  In this Mr. Richards appreciation thread, can anyone take on the project of going through the lyrics and sharing what the lyrics are saying to you?  (opinions are great)

I am really new to interpreting REM lyrics and this one is making me think because I'm missing something relevant (or maybe even the bigger piece) and need to know what someone else gets from the lyrics...    

My best friend would usually have the entire political story and who did it, where they are, and what the consequences are etc...  and she isn't here to give me her interpretation...

Any volunteers?  Please :)

This is my opinion:

Mr. Richards your position is a messenger pigeon
Left behind you when the camp moved on
We thought that you would listen
But the words they never crystallized
Into a truth that you might own, hey hey
(This is about someone who used to believe in something and didn't for awhile. Maybe Michael's struggle with his faith?)

Mr. Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention
(The other people are telling him to believe in what he believes)

Mr. Richards you're forgiven
For a narrow lack of vision
But the fires are still raging on
The public's got opinions
And these consequences border on
The compound that you razed where zealots sang, hey hey
(The person is forgiven for faltering in their beliefs whether they be spiritual or political)

Mr.Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention

So listen, your intention
Sign the papers, stamp the ribbon
You're mistaken if you think we'll just forget
(The person voiced their opinion and wants everyone to forget.)

You can thump your chest and rattle
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
We're the children of the choir, hey
And we know what's going on

Mr. Richards you're conviction
Had us cheering in the kitchen
Now the jury's eating pigeon pie
So tell me how was prison
Have they taught you how to listen
We've begun to bridge the schism
Pay attention, pay attention
(The person believes again and it has everyone excited. The opposing people are having to eat their own words now. The "prison" was not believing in himself)

Mr. Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention

You can thump your chest and rattle
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on
We're the children of the choir, hey
From the compond fire, hey
And we know what's going on
Yes we know what's going on

[isilida 32]

i take it it's about a politician that they all once believed in and thought was diffferent, but has to come to find out he/she's just like all the rest. they keep forgiving him but alert him that the problem's still there.

[dgl]

Seems to me it's taking the Bush administration to task for the Iraq war, w/ Richards being Bush or Cheney (although as some have pointed out, the "your conviction" line makes it seem more like Scooter Libby.)

The line "We know what's going on" means, as the Who would say, "We won't get fooled again." Bush/Cheney are "left behind" clinging to the same old policies but "the camp" (the public) has "moved on." Richards can be "forgiven for a narrow lack of vision" in starting the war, but unfortunately "the fires are still raging on."

All metaphorical, of course; I don't know specifically what the "compound fire" is supposed to be.

[dgl]

Mystery solved?

I was at the D.C. show last night, where Stipe, after noting that he had spent fully half of his life being governed by a-holes, then proceeded to dedicate "Mr. Richards" to ... Dick Cheney.

[fanandmortar]

Mr Richards was initially my favorite song on Accelerate, and I still like it a lot.  I think probably what made it jump out so quickly is that it's one of Stipe's more straightforward lyrics--he is telling a story, and does so pretty succinctly.  That's not to say it can't have multiple interpretations, of course, but from a lyrical standpoint, it's pretty accessible.

It is also musically accessible--but for those who have been knocking it as musically boring, I urge you to listen again and pay attention to the construction of the song.  It isn't just your usual verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus pattern, and I think the ending is especially effective.