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R.E.M. — The Lifting
Album: Reveal
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 104









Released: 2001
Length: 4:35
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Grounded, 5 A.M.
The nitelite is comforting,
But gravity is holding you.

Once settled into sleep
You have watched, on repeat,
The story of your life
Across the ceiling;
And in review,

You've said the air was singing
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen

"Good morning, and how are you?
The weather's fine, the sky is blue -
It's perfect for our seminar..."

"Now close your eyes,
And start to breathe.
Allow the noise to recede...
...Allow yourself to drift and fly away."
But you just stay.

You've said the air was singing
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen, never dreamed.

Did you hear these voices calling

Locked into the conference room,
"We're only what our minds assume..."
And rationale is leaving you.

This conceit, these systems of belief,
Your counselor agrees,
"You've always marked these boundaries, now you're free..."
And with relief.

You've said the air was singing
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen, never heard, never dreamed.

You've said the air was singing
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen

Never, never, never.

Once you had a dream
Of oceans, and sunken cities;
Memories of things you've never known
And you have never known.
Comments (20)add comment
Hey Lester Freebish, you still hanging around here?
You just played REM 40 minutes ago, what are you playing at?
 justin4kick wrote:
10 years since the last time this song has been played on RP. One of the best REM-song ever but no one seems to hear what I do.

 
I do!{#Dancingbanana_2}
Panned when it came out, this album has a few gems like this great opener. Be nice to see it get played a little more often.
10 years since the last time this song has been played on RP. One of the best REM-song ever but no one seems to hear what I do.
Myrrh wrote:
If Michael Stipe has an "insufferably grating voice" (which I don't find grating at all, nor apparently do many REM fans), then who exactly among male vocalists doesn't have a grating voice? No fair if you say Jim Morrison or Tori Amos.
Shane MacGowan? Gordon Gano (of Violent Femmes fame) ?
tomnam wrote:
Hey, you had the same exact comment about a couple of other REM tunes. I don't mind taking this elevator every now and then. You must be in great shape taking the stairs all the time...
Perhaps I should explain the quotes around elevator music. They're Michael Stipes. In an interview once he said The Beatles music didn't mean much to him—"elevator music". So it was just a little poke at him. I do like some of REM's tunes, though they're not in the same league as Beatles thank you very much.
tomnam wrote:
Hey, you had the same exact comment about a couple of other REM tunes. I don't mind taking this elevator every now and then. You must be in great shape taking the stairs all the time...
I know Lester and he does take the stairs and is in great shape for an old man.
Bill, you have a loop,... You have repeated the last three songs...
R.E.M. are consistently better than most and their music has evolved in a 'respectable' way - they seem to have lost something raw. Stipe's voice as an aesthetic is debatable, does it irritate? to me it depends on my mood, but overall adds value.
if i took the time to buy the album and read the words, i'd probably like this song much more (because i love rem lyrics). but it sounds just like their other new stuff -- which i generally enjoy -- which tends to be, for me, background music. but i don't mind. :)
Originally Posted by Phaedra: Interesting! Good road music. :p
I thought so too, Phaedra. Really nice on a long drive. This is a good cd with a couple of great moments.
Originally Posted by lester_freebish: "Elevator music."
Hey, you had the same exact comment about a couple of other REM tunes. I don't mind taking this elevator every now and then. You must be in great shape taking the stairs all the time...
The intro suggested it might be a fine tune. Then I heard Michael Stipe\'s insufferably grating voice. Sometimes great lyrics/tune/overall arrangement can overcome crappy vocals, ala Pogues or Violent Femmes. REM just doesn\'t quite reach that threshold for me.
I didn\'t hear the whole album, but it seems that \"Reveal\" is not a good album. I think that it is ideal for a \"siesta\".
Another great tune from REM. It's good to know they haven't become stale by rehashing their old style, but have continued to innovate and mature their sound. Sure I like their old sound too. Do you remember when Green came out and everyone complained that it was nothing like their 'old' sound? Well, only a year passed between Document and Green. Thirteen years have passed between Green and Reveal. Who wouldn't expect a world of change? The innovation continues, and I'm more than happy to still be listening to REM after all these years. Blarg.