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R.E.M. — These Days
Album: Life's Rich Pageant
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1044









Released: 1986
Length: 3:19
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Now I'm not feeding off you
I will rearrange your scales if I can, and I can
Marching to the ocean, marching to the sea, I had a hat
I dropped it down and it sunk, reached down
Picked it up, slapped it on my head

All the people gather, fly to carry each his burden
We are young despite the years
We are concern, we are hope despite the times
All of a sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever

I wish to meet each one of you
And you meet you, if I can, and I can
We have many things in common, name three (three, three, three)
I had a hat and it sunk, reached down
Picked it up, slapped it on my head

All the people gather, fly to carry each his burden
We are young despite the years
We are concern, we are hope despite the times
All of a sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go

Now I'm not feeding off you
I will rearrange your scales if I can, and I can
I wish to meet each one of you, and you meet you
I had a hat and it sunk, reached down
Picked it up, slapped it on my head

All the people gather, fly to carry each his burden
We are young despite the years
We are concern, we are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you

Carry each his burden, we are young despite the years
We are concern, we are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go

Carry each his burden, we are young despite the years
We are concern, we are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go
(Take away the scattered bones of my meal)
Comments (149)add comment
"I had a hat and it sunk, reached down
Picked it up, slapped it on my head"



Yes Indeed!
The proper way to use reverb.
One of my favorites from our vinyl collection.
 mistermerp wrote:
This song just plain kicks ass and leaves no question as to how great REM was in the 80's. This is frantic mumbling energy at its best. Awesome.
 
Agreed that it kicks ass, but I wouldn't call it mumbling - Stipe's diction is pretty good. I think it's a combination of his using more vibrato than many rock vocalists and the chorusing added in the mixing that makes it sounds at all "mumbly".
All of the sudden, these days
yeah, it's a 10
Sonically EPIC!
A Masterpiece as was Jackson Browne's These Days. Would be nice counterpoint to hear em both, back to back.
This song just plain kicks ass and leaves no question as to how great REM was in the 80's. This is frantic mumbling energy at its best. Awesome.
They were so frantic, so earnest, so exuberant in those early days! It was such a kick seeing them live, then, too; Stipe was SO EDGY!
When I used to drive across country to home from grad school, I always tried to play this CD in Ohio to coincide with the crossing of the Cuyohoga River.  Tough to do on a 16 hour trip before Google Maps.
{#Dancingbanana_2}   Love this one!!!!
 papersitter wrote:
the last truly great from start to finish record from these guys

 
Does a record need to be truly great from start to finish to qualify as a great record? That seems like a pretty high bar. Most of my absolute favorite records from any band have at least 1-2 kind of weak experiments that I sometimes skip. The majority of REM for me fits into that category of maybe 1-2 skips (with the number admittedly increasing the closer they got to Accelerate). Doesn't mean I don't absolutely love them!
 papersitter wrote:
the last truly great from start to finish record from these guys

 
My favourite album of theirs but this is not a statement I can back up.  Document, Green, Out of Time and New Adventures all make that list for me.  Automatic would but it has Everybody Hurts and that slow instrumental.
the last truly great from start to finish record from these guys
College Radio REM, So good.  Awesome listening as a 16 year old.  Had a university across the street from our home and you could hear REM and my Intro to Guadalcanal Diary bellowing from dorm windows.  It was a good time.

Bill what about Superman from this record.  That song truly gets you going.
I am so glad that their music was around when I was growing up.
 (Banned) wrote:
This album was a staple of my college years, all eight of them.  This song was one of my favorites. 

 
Ok I feel underprivileged, 2 years is all I got to get dem 'nitials. Had I known then how to stretch it to 8 that could have been a blast.
OUTSTANDING (by definition)!!!!
This album was a staple of my college years, all eight of them.  This song was one of my favorites. 
Love me some old REM
It's been a while since I've heard this. Still sounds great.
WHIP IT! This song had emotional resonance for me back in college, and it still gets it done for me.
YEAH!  This was INCREDIBLE then, and can still bring the inspiration now!  We could use more of that precious stuff These Days...
 romeotuma wrote:


love it!  let's party!

 
 
Word! 

Gotta love the Pageant.  Bring on Superman!  That's an automatic 10.  {#Dancingbanana}


Old School REM. LOVE! 
Yeah baby!  BRING IT....!!!
One of the few REM songs that IMHO is actually good and has stood the test of time.
 ick wrote:
I don't think they've ever reached this level of energy again.  Unfortunate.
 
Who can? It's quite a feat. I dig this song a lot; my band used to play it. I don't think we knew half of the right words in the chorus.


YAY!  Great REM song.   
REM and Moby should get awards for the most boring music {#Puke}
 goatshow wrote:

Feeling fortunate that they shared this level of energy with us.  Who could sustain that?
 

 
Indeed.  Who could?  I certainly haven't and this song kind of relates to precisely that.

 treatment_bound wrote:


 
Yea, I actually think side 2 may just be better.{#Yes}

 ick wrote:
I don't think they've ever reached this level of energy again.  Unfortunate.
 
Feeling fortunate that they shared this level of energy with us.  Who could sustain that?
 

Wow, I needed that this morning!  Better than a double espresso! {#Dancingbanana_2}
It's my understanding that they'll be releasing a re-mastered version of this record with un-released demos etc. for the 25th anniversary of its original release.

https://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2011/05/03/rem-lifes-rich-pageant-reissue-25th-anniversary-2/


 peter_james_bond wrote:
This is Radio North Korea....we surrender to your rock a{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana_2}nd roll giants! Yeh! {#Drummer} {#Guitarist} {#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano} Now dance peepers! {#Dancingbanana_2} {#Bananasplit} {#Dancingbanana}{#Bananasplit}

 

Best Korea always best dances!!!
{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana}
 Fables85 wrote:
treatment_bound: 

First and foremost, "What if we give it away?".

"Just a Touch" is a little ditty back from the early days that was best left there. Personally, I'm not to keen on "Flowers of Guatemala" either.

Don't get me wrong, it's a better 4th album than most bands'... BUT It's just tiresome to hear that R.E.M.'s ONLY good efforts were the I.R.S. years... I'd take them over the Warners years any time BUT it is simply NOT true that the Warners period is without merit.
 
Fables 85, Pete B. agrees with you on this one, as I stumbled on this recently perusing a R.E.M. blog:
>>>"What If We Give It Away?" is a re-written version of a song called "Get On Their Way" that dates back to 1980.  In Craig Rosen's "Inside Out (The Stories Behind Every Song)," he writes that Peter Buck wishes the song was left off the album. It was an old song, but one the producer liked. <<<

I still like it, but it has yet to make it to the RP playlist, so I guess I'll just have to spin my vinyl copy again sometime soon...

One of my first CD's back in the day...... waaaaayyyyy back......
try to say something negative about the lyrics
Miles Standish is at your door   {#Stupid}  lol  what?  who?

This is Radio North Korea....we surrender to your rock and roll giants! Yeh! {#Drummer} {#Guitarist} {#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano} Now dance peepers! {#Dancingbanana_2} {#Bananasplit} {#Dancingbanana}{#Bananasplit}

treatment_bound: 

First and foremost, "What if we give it away?".

"Just a Touch" is a little ditty back from the early days that was best left there. Personally, I'm not to keen on "Flowers of Guatemala" either.

Don't get me wrong, it's a better 4th album than most bands'... BUT It's just tiresome to hear that R.E.M.'s ONLY good efforts were the I.R.S. years... I'd take them over the Warners years any time BUT it is simply NOT true that the Warners period is without merit.


 Fables85 wrote:

Well, I'm sorry, but thats a damn cliche, oft-repeated but hard to agree with...

The band was struggling for new material at this stage and even though the first side (thats' about halfway into your CD or mp3 playlist) is fantastic indeed, the second includes the first few R.E.M."duds" on record.

As per "These Days"... simply marvellous.

Here's Side 2 (or, as it was called on the original vinyl release, "Supper side") of Lifes Rich Pageant.  Which of these songs do you consider their first "duds"?

 



 robspeds wrote:
REM definitely peaked with this album, then downhill fairly fast.....it is a shame.
 
Well, I'm sorry, but thats a damn cliche, oft-repeated but hard to agree with...

The band was struggling for new material at this stage and even though the first side (thats' about halfway into your CD or mp3 playlist) is fantastic indeed, the second includes the first few R.E.M."duds" on record.

As per "These Days"... simply marvellous.

REM definitely peaked with this album, then downhill fairly fast.....it is a shame.

All the people gather
Fly to carry each his burden
We are young despite the years, we are concern
We are hope despite the times


love this song.
 Dirktooth wrote:
Hearing this song kick in is like an electric jolt right up the spine.

There is so much energy here it's almost painful. In a really good way.

 
Couldn't agree more.  This is a really great track from an album full of them.  My favorite album from one of my favorite bands.  This was a high-water mark in a career that had many.


 justin4kick wrote:


From this and all those similar comments I understand it's impossible to love both the old and the new R.E.M. Well I do the impossible.
 
You are not alone.

 Dirktooth wrote:
Hearing this song kick in is like an electric jolt right up the spine.

There is so much energy here it's almost painful. In a really good way.

 

Well said.
 ick wrote:
I don't think they've ever reached this level of energy again.  Unfortunate.
 

From this and all those similar comments I understand it's impossible to love both the old and the new R.E.M. Well I do the impossible.
I don't think they've ever reached this level of energy again.  Unfortunate.
Hearing this song kick in is like an electric jolt right up the spine.

There is so much energy here it's almost painful. In a really good way.

ROCK AND ROLL, BABY!!!



Why can't they make me move like this anymore?


foolish comment. it's all been mediocre for quite a few years now, but life's rich pagaent rocked. pushkinjim wrote:
What are you talking about? REM never did anything right or good - it's all mediocre crap!
pushkinjim wrote:
What are you talking about? REM never did anything right or good - it's all mediocre crap!
What makes you think those of us who admire the innovation of this band, how they actually changed music in their time, give a shit what you think?
diazo wrote:
Back when REM could do no wrong.
What are you talking about? REM never did anything right or good - it's all mediocre crap!
Back when REM could do no wrong.
RobK wrote:
You'd be hard pressed to find a better R.E.M. album than Life's Rich Pageant.
So true. Perfect album. It was love at first listen for me way back when.
I've never been a big REM fan but whenever they come on the radio I think of the days when me and a bunch of friends would drive around looking for fun .. that was fun itself! So good associations here..
Ah, back when REM was really really good, and before Michael Stipe started whining.
'Life's Rich Pageant' is definitely my favourite album by R.E.M. It came into my life in the middle of the 80's where R.E.M. was completely 'underground' and absolutely unknown to people in Germany...and I fell in love with the album from the first second. Good old vinyl...
Oy. This is skipping like an old record.
Land_Shark wrote:
Well said, Coloradojohn. This song just makes me want to jump out of my skin and dance till my bones shake. Back in the day, this one was amazing when performed live.
Ditto. The urgency, the intensity, still blow me away.
sounds a bit up beat for REM I thought it was a tribute band
Don't forget the Chronic Town EP. rtkmusic wrote:
Only if you couldn't find Murmur or Reckoning!!
I must have got a hold of some bad shrimp or something. This doesn't sound horrible enough to be REM. I give this song a 5,which is hard for me to do with REM. Bless you my song.
rtkmusic wrote:
Only if you couldn't find Murmur or Reckoning!!
Those are great, but I'm partial to Document, myself.
coloradojohn wrote:
God, these guys had an urgency, an unbridled energy, and amazing musical abilities, and this blasted into my consciousness fully formed gorgeously jagged and roughly polished to ROCK MY WORLD! May they someday hit this intensity again!
Well said, Coloradojohn. This song just makes me want to jump out of my skin and dance till my bones shake. Back in the day, this one was amazing when performed live.
God, these guys had an urgency, an unbridled energy, and amazing musical abilities, and this blasted into my consciousness fully formed gorgeously jagged and roughly polished to ROCK MY WORLD! May they someday hit this intensity again!
RobK wrote:
You'd be hard pressed to find a better R.E.M. album than Life's Rich Pageant.
Only if you couldn't find Murmur or Reckoning!!
Luna2 wrote:
I dedicate all REM songs to Meghan
And to Spliff.
RobK wrote:
You'd be hard pressed to find a better R.E.M. album than Life's Rich Pageant.
This was the album that introduced me to R.E.M., so it's a sentimental favorite. Many memories of my freshman year in college connected to these songs.
What a fantastic rocker from the boys from Athens, GA. I sure do wish Michael Stipe & Co. would "return to their roots" with a new album of rockers.
RobK wrote:
You'd be hard pressed to find a better R.E.M. album than Life's Rich Pageant.
Absolutely!
RobK wrote:
You'd be hard pressed to find a better R.E.M. album than Life's Rich Pageant.
I would take that literally as album. Overall this is just a 'top 3 or 4' in REM's catalog, but when listened to on vinyl, it easily pulls ahead of the competetion. This song especially, sounds SO much better than digitized.
You'd be hard pressed to find a better R.E.M. album than Life's Rich Pageant.
Oh man, this is good.
vintage REM
whoo-hoo
I love the classic REM to Son Volt transition.
dpjag wrote:
Oh, my. Get the album.
By all means do so immediately.
One of their best (an early tune of course)
flyfree wrote:
Early REM...what a boon, at 3:36 in the afternoon. I did not intend for that to rhyme, but I will let it stand.
You're a poet, but you don't know it.
Oh hell yes!
bbgun wrote:
Haven't heard this one before. Easy to forget that REM could (can?) really rock when they wanted to... Great song!
Oh, my. Get the album.
Early REM...what a boon, at 3:36 in the afternoon. I did not intend for that to rhyme, but I will let it stand.
rock perfection, by the perfect rock and roll band!
iu204sm wrote:
"so ta much RP"?? What does this mean? Are you speaking a different languauge?
Ta means thank you
Perfection wrapped up in a Rickenbacker.
This whole album really takes me back- one of my first as a new 16 yr old driver. Would drive wherever just to be out, away from home, and cranking to my own tunes! One of REM's all time bests.
Haven't heard this one before. Easy to forget that REM could (can?) really rock when they wanted to... Great song!
Mari wrote:
...Life's Rich Pageant, yet another superfantastic album by REM! Can't get enough, so ta much RP!... ...
"so ta much RP"?? What does this mean? Are you speaking a different languauge?
I dedicate all REM songs to Meghan
My inner child just got up out of its office chair and yelled: YES!!!!!
oh man! this song just goes!
*** ***...YEA'
Don't know which version of the band played this particular date, but what continues to amaze me is the sheer power of the song, something I think we took for granted back then. This one cooks.
My favourite REM album..... I think.....
wasn't the point of listening to Murmur *not* to understand the lyrics, per se, but to enjoy the scat-like effect of them?
You old school REM fans are dating yourself! (I'm among you, man...) My favorite misconstrued REM lyric was from the album Murmur (1983)- song Sitting Still: "We could gather, throw a fit." was interpreted by many as : "We could gather, throw up beer." Love the old REM... keep it coming!
great to hear this song. they were so good back then.
th3boon wrote:
actually its not "We are serious hasburden (this i don't know but <-- that is wrong) We are young despite the years, we are concern(ed) We are hope despite the time(s). Ohhh, sunninout(sunny are), these days Happy th(r)ongs, take this jure (joy), wherever, wherever..."
Close, see below for correct lyrics. :)
labkpr wrote:
Pure poetry, my friend. That's all...
actually its not "We are serious hasburden (this i don't know but <-- that is wrong) We are young despite the years, we are concern(ed) We are hope despite the time(s). Ohhh, sunninout(sunny are), these days Happy th(r)ongs, take this jure (joy), wherever, wherever..."
Old_Pool_Skunk wrote:
"We are serious hasburden We are young despite the years, we are concern We are hope despite the time. Ohhh, sunninout, these days Happy thongs, take this jure, wherever, wherever..." And: "We have many things in common, name three (thray, thray, thray) I had a hat, and it sunk, reached down, yanked it up, slapped it on my head ALL the people gather..." Huh? :-s
LOL! I don't what the lyrics are but these are probably better, anyway.
Old_Pool_Skunk wrote:
"We are serious hasburden We are young despite the years, we are concern We are hope despite the time. Ohhh, sunninout, these days Happy thongs, take this jure, wherever, wherever..." And: "We have many things in common, name three (thray, thray, thray) I had a hat, and it sunk, reached down, yanked it up, slapped it on my head ALL the people gather..." Huh? :-s
Pure poetry, my friend. That's all...
Now I'm not feeding off you, I will rearrange your scales If I can, and I can March into the ocean, march into the sea I had a hat I put it down and it sunk, reached down, Yanked it up, slapped it on my head All the people gather Fly to carry each his burden We are young despite the years we are concern We are hope despite the times All of the sudden, these days Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever I wish to meet each one of you And you, me, you, if I can and I can We have many things in common, name three I had a hat and it sunk, reached down, Yanked it up, slapped it on my head All the people gather Fly to carry each his burden We are young despite the years we are concern We are hope despite the times All of the sudden, these days Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go Now I'm not feeding off you I will rearrange your scales If I can and I can I wish to eat each one of you and you, me, you I had a hat and it sunk, reached down, Yanked it up, slapped it on my head All the people gather Fly to carry each his burden We are young despite the years we are concern We are hope despite the times All of the sudden, these days Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you Carry each his burden We are young despite the years we are concern We are hope despite the times All of the sudden, these days Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go
gandalfbmg wrote:
This may be the greatest album of the last 30 years, if not longer.
Let's not go crazy here! Best album in the last 30 years?? I think not.
A great song from a great album, even if we don't know what the hell he is saying!
I rarely get what Stipe's singing about, and for once I just don't care. Love it!
"We are serious hasburden We are young despite the years, we are concern We are hope despite the time. Ohhh, sunninout, these days Happy thongs, take this jure, wherever, wherever..." And: "We have many things in common, name three (thray, thray, thray) I had a hat, and it sunk, reached down, yanked it up, slapped it on my head ALL the people gather..." Huh? :-s
God, this song rocks. We played this CD so loudly when it first came out my ears still hurt 20 years later.
ChardRemains wrote:
Aaaaaahhh. REM right before they started to s**k.
It's okay; you can write "suck."
...Yeah, they were rockin' back then. That whole album....a Civil War kinda thing....
Aaaaaahhh. REM right before they started to s**k.
walk wrote:
Oh I don't know, you can't really dance to it, and that singer.. what ever is he saying? =) edit -> heh, just realized. 9.3 rating. whoa, wonder how many are that high...
It goes like this.... "We are serious hasburden We are young despite the years, we are concern We are hope despite the time. Ohhh, sunninout, these days Happy thongs, take this jure, wherever, wherever..." And: "We have many things in common, name three (thray, thray, thray) I had a hat, and it sunk, reached down, yanked it up, slapped it on my head ALL the people gather..." That should clear things up. Huh? Oh, it's no problem whatsoever! :)
Best. REM song. Evar. I wish they always rocked like this.