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Reckoning - Accurate Lyrics


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#1 bluemookie

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Posted 13 October 2011 - 06:19 AM

Harborcoat

They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood push through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads "REACT"

They shifted the statues for harboring ghosts (Laocoon is host)
Reddened their necks, collared their clothes (The library hollowed)
When we ditched the books with the middles cut out (Friendly harbor ghost)
She gathered the corners and called it her gown (She wants to tell her scheme)
She said

Oh find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)
Find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)

They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood push through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads "REACT", R-E-A-C-T

Oh find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)
Find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)

They shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
Reddened their necks, collared their clothes
When we ditched the books with the middles cut out
She gathered the corners and called it her gown
This is what she said...

Whoa find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)
Find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)

I could use some help with the backing vocals.  I know the first two (Laocoon is host, and the library hollowed) are accurate due to my interview with Mike, and he says that Bill sings "Harborcoat is long" in the chorus.  He sings something else in the first part though.  Help me out here.

#2 beatadrum

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Posted 13 October 2011 - 10:12 AM

View Postbluemookie, on 13 October 2011 - 06:19 AM, said:

Harborcoat

They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood push through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads "REACT"

They shifted the statues for harboring ghosts (Laocoon is host)
Reddened their necks, collared their clothes (The library hollowed)
When we ditched the books with the middles cut out (Friendly harbor ghost)
She gathered the corners and called it her gown (She wants to tell her scheme)
She said

Oh find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)
Find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)

They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood push through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads "REACT", R-E-A-C-T

Oh find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)
Find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)

They shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
Reddened their necks, collared their clothes
When we ditched the books with the middles cut out
She gathered the corners and called it her gown
This is what she said...

Whoa find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)
Find my harborcoat, can't go outside without it
(Please find my harborcoat, wear my harborcoat)
(Harborcoat is long)

I could use some help with the backing vocals.  I know the first two (Laocoon is host, and the library hollowed) are accurate due to my interview with Mike, and he says that Bill sings "Harborcoat is long" in the chorus.  He sings something else in the first part though.  Help me out here.

I would suggest


"she gathered the corners and collared her gown"

#3 LST 390

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Posted 19 October 2011 - 02:41 PM

Here, I'll help..."This mellow, sweet, short-haired boy..." ^_^

#4 pauloedu

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Posted 19 October 2011 - 04:25 PM

This one is hard.. I´m trying to figure out what mike is singing... I´m not sure about the lacoon.

I have to listen more.
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#5 Driver Nate

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Posted 19 October 2011 - 08:43 PM

View Postpauloedu, on 19 October 2011 - 04:25 PM, said:

This one is hard.. I´m trying to figure out what mike is singing... I´m not sure about the lacoon.

Just because it's listed here doesn't necessarily make it so but once I learned about the lyrics online (and maybe read it in It Crawled From the South), Lacoon made sense.
"We were listening to the UNC radio (station) there and they were playing an R.E.M. song. I like R.E.M. fine, but at the end of it, the DJ says, 'Ya that was R.E.M., the sound of the new South'. I looked at my roommate and we said, Gawd, if that's the sound of the new South, I preferred it when it was on the skids. That's how we got the name."
- Rick Miller of Southern Culture on the Skids

#6 bluemookie

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Posted 20 October 2011 - 03:56 AM

That was one of the first questions I asked, and it was one of the few that he didn't dodge with "I don't remember"  Laocoon is host is correct.

#7 bluemookie

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 05:21 AM

7 Chinese Brothers

This mellow, sweet, short-haired boy, woman offers pull up a seat
Take in one symphony now, we've just begun to battle
Wrap your heel in bones of steel, turn the leg, a twist of color
Autumn waited hold it to you in the colored come another

Seven chinese brothers swallowing the ocean
Seven thousand years to sleep away the pain
She will return,
she will return

This mellow, sweet, short-haired boy, woman offers pull up a seat
Take in one symphony now, we've just begun to battle
Wrap your heel in bones of steel, turn the leg, a twist of color
Autumn waded seven seas swimming colored come another

Seven chinese brothers swallowing the ocean
Seven thousand years to sleep away the pain
She will return,
she will return

This mellow, sweet, short-haired boy, woman offers pull up a chair
Take in one symphony now, I guest we lost that battle
Wrap your heel in bones of steel, turn the leg, a twist of color
Autumn waded seven seas swimming colored come another

Seven chinese brothers swallowing the ocean
Seven thousand years the Communi did reign
She will return,
she will return

#8 bluemookie

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 05:25 AM

So. Central Rain

Did you never call?  I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The trees will bend, the cities wash away
The city on the river, there’s a girl without a dream

I'm sorry x 4

Eastern to Mountain, third party call, the lines are down
The wise man built his words upon the rocks
But I'm not bound to follow suit
The trees will bend, the conversation’s dimmed
Go build yourself another home, this choice isn't mine

I'm sorry x 2

Did you never call?  I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The ocean sang, the conversation’s dimmed
Go build yourself another dream, this choice isn't mine

I'm sorry x 4

#9 bluemookie

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 05:32 AM

Pretty Persuasion

It's what I want, her read and write
all has been tried, her reasoning by
Cannot shuffle in this heat, it's all wrong
Try to put that on your sleeve it's all wrong, all wrong

He's got a pretty persuasion
She's got pretty persuasion
God damn your confusion
She's got pretty persuasion

It's what I want, her read and rhyme
all has been tried, her reasoning
When I put that in this heat it's all wrong
Try to wear that on my sleeve it's all wrong all wrong

He's got a pretty persuasion
She's got pretty persuasion
God damn your confusion
He's got pretty persuasion

In the light I fall
I will see it land

It's what I want, her read and rhyme
all has been tried, her reasoning
Try to put that in this heat it's all wrong
Cannot wear that on your sleeve it's all wrong it's all wrong

He's got a pretty persuasion
She's got pretty persuasion
God damn your confusion
He's got pretty persuasion

#10 Driver Eight

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 10:18 PM

View Postbluemookie, on 24 October 2011 - 05:25 AM, said:

The wise man built his words upon the rocks
But I'm not bound to follow suit

I always heard this as "The wise man wrote his words upon the rocks." Whatever the words, I love this song more than words can say.

On Edit: Just relistened, and it does sound like "built" after all. I like "wrote" better - Michael has said that countless times, fans have come to him with lyrics they "heard" which were better than his originals. :)

Edited by Driver Eight, 24 October 2011 - 10:23 PM.

I looked for it,
And I found it,
Miles Standish proud,
Congratulate me. ...

Answer me a question,
I can't itemize, I can't think clearly,
To me for reason it's not there,
I can't even rhyme ...

-The song which welcomed me to the world of REM, 23 years ago, September 1988

#11 Sweden

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Posted 24 October 2011 - 11:12 PM

View PostDriver Eight, on 24 October 2011 - 10:18 PM, said:


I always heard this as "The wise man wrote his words upon the rocks." Whatever the words, I love this song more than words can say.

On Edit: Just relistened, and it does sound like "built" after all. I like "wrote" better - Michael has said that countless times, fans have come to him with lyrics they "heard" which were better than his originals. :)

Isn't that a reference to some sort of Bible wording about not building your house on sand or gravel, but to build it on solid rock? If so, I would seem more likely to be "built".

As for Pretty Persuasion, aren't any guesses for the verses there just us making up words where there are none?

/D
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#12 bluemookie

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Posted 25 October 2011 - 07:42 AM

View PostSweden, on 24 October 2011 - 11:12 PM, said:

As for Pretty Persuasion, aren't any guesses for the verses there just us making up words where there are none?
/D

Well, yes, Mike did state that the verses have no real words, just vowels and constants.  Personally, I think that Michael wrote something back in '81 and Mike just harmonized, perhaps not knowing what lyrics Michael was singing.  After years of doing it, it's just vowels and constants to them.  Listening to the 1981 live versions, the verses stayed pretty similar, even if the chorus was completely rewritten.  So, I do believe that at least in the beginning, Michael was singing genuine lyrics.  No, I don't think they told a story or made sense, but I also don't think, looking at their 1981 original songs, that it was just sounds.  Listen to those early shows.  I can't say that it's more clear, but Michael wasn't in the habit of making stuff up for for noise in '81.  Just my 2 cents.

#13 LST 390

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Posted 29 October 2011 - 10:19 PM

Ask the girl of the hour...

#14 bluemookie

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Posted 31 October 2011 - 04:19 AM

Time After Time (Annelise)

Ask the girl of the hour by the water tower's watch
If your friends took a fall, are you obligated to follow?

Time after time after time

When the bull's on his hooves, when you gather friends by the tower
If you try to refuse, will they judge your worth by the hour?

Time after time after time
Time after time after time

If you’re tired and you're tried you can find me in my room
You can stay if you want and the third time you can't lose

Time after time after time
Time after time after time

Ask the girl of the hour, by the water tower's watch
Go on by if you want but who will turn out the light

Time after Time after Time
Time after time after time

#15 bluemookie

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Posted 31 October 2011 - 04:29 AM

Second Guessing

Why are you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing.
What will be your look this season?
Who will be your book this season?

Oh....  Oh....  Oh....

Why are you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing.
What will be your look this season?
Who will be your book this season?

Oh....  Oh....  Oh....

Here we are    Here we are    Here we are

Why are you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing.
What will be your look this season?
Peter, Mike and Bill are not your book this season

Oh....  Oh....  Oh....
Oh....  Oh....  Oh....

Here we are    Here we are    Here we are
Here we are    Here we are    Here we are

#16 bluemookie

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Posted 31 October 2011 - 04:34 AM

Letter Never Sent

It's been pretty simple so far, vacation in Athens is calling me
And knock, knock, knock on wood, I thought I'd left you behind

Heaven is yours, heaven is yours, heaven is yours where I live

The thought of the catacombs left my soul at home
This letter never sent

And it's so far, it's all gone and it’s all lost

Heaven is yours, heaven is yours where I live
(Another story, another story for a while, someone show me)

When I'm moving too fast, here’s my new address?

The water is evening now, the catacombs are filling in
If my soul was made of stone, no, not, not so bah bah

And it's so far, it's all gone and it’s all lost
And it's so far, it's all gone and it’s all lost

Heaven's yours, heaven's yours, heaven's yours where I live
(Another story, another story for a while, someone show me)
Heaven's yours, heaven's yours, heaven's yours where I live
(Another story, another story for a while, someone show me)

#17 LST 390

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Posted 01 November 2011 - 12:02 AM

Thank you for continuing! One comment from Michael's "Pop Songs" Q&A...

"Hello,
Two lyrics come to mind from Time After Time (Annelise). The opening lyric;

Ask the girl of the hour by the water tower’s watch
And the following;
when the bull’s on his hooves, when you gather friends by the tower
First, it’s one of my favorite R.E.M. songs (daughter is named Annelise), and I’ve always wondered where the tower is and the significance of said tower.
Thank you for allowing me to submit.
Andrew Wall"

The tower was in Athens on Chase street and has been torn down, and the line is ‘when he pulls on his hooves, will you gather friends by the tower’. We played it last night. Annelise is a made up person I took two and put them together into one. Neither had anything to do with the actual story that inspired the song. (MICHAEL)

#18 bluemookie

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Posted 01 November 2011 - 04:03 AM

Interesting quote.  That's exactly what I was looking for when I started putting these lyrics up here; help from you guys!  Thanks!

#19 bluemookie

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Posted 01 November 2011 - 05:10 AM

Camera

From the inside room when the front room green
Becomes your special book, it was simple then
When the party lows, if we fall by the side
Will you be remembered?  Will she be remembered?  

Alone in a crowd, a borrowed lantern bartered
If I'm to be your camera, then who will be your first?

I fell by your bed once; I didn't want to tell you
I should keep myself in-between the pages
Of the green light room if we fall by the side
Will you be remembered?  Will she be remembered?  

Alone in a crowd, a bartered lantern borrowed
If I'm to be your camera, then who will be your first?

From the inside room when the front room green
Becomes your special book, it was simple then
When the party lows, if we fall by the side
I still like you; can you remember?  
Alone in a crowd, a bartered lantern borrowed
If I'm to be your camera, then who will be your first?
Alone in a crowd, a bartered lantern borrowed
If I'm to be your camera, then who will be your first?

#20 bluemookie

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Posted 01 November 2011 - 05:15 AM

(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville

Looking at your watch a third time waiting in the station for a bus
Going to a place that's far, so far away and if that's not enough
Going where nobody says hello, they don't talk to anybody they don't know

You'll wind up in some factory that's full time filth and nowhere left to go
Walk home to an empty house, sit around all by yourself
I know it might sound strange, but I believe
You'll be coming back before too long

Don't go back to Rockville
And waste another year

At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend
I don't care that  you're not here with me
Is it so much easier to handle
All my problems if I'm too far out to sea
But something better happen soon
Or it's gonna be too late to bring you back

Don't go back to Rockville
And waste another year

It's not as though I really need you
If you were here I'd only bleed you
But everybody else in town only wants to bring you down and
That's not how it ought to be

I know it might sound strange, but I believe
You'll be coming back before too long

Don't go back to Rockville
And waste another year





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