Caliche is basically clay or hardpan. In the (very interesting) video for this, caliche is spelled wrong and in fact is spelled wrong all across the internet. Speaking of the video (link below) it is the first watchable video in the R.E.M. collection, but is also the exact reason a show like 120 minutes was invented on MTV. Too artsy for primetime viewing. It's a good look at the band goofing off with a surprising amount of face time for Jefferson Holt. Philomath is defined specifically as a scholar and was the name chosen for a town in Georgia where Stipe would visit his friend the Reverend Ruth, who would play on a small home organ while his wife would sing gospel songs.
'Driss is sure to shirr the deer out:' I really wanted to come up with something for this, I mean he must be saying something right? I wanted the first word to be 'dresses,' but it's not. Why waste time and energy? This is Stipe land where you've earned the right to say anything and get away with it. Which reminds me of a list I read on Spinner which called one of Stipe's lyrics one of the worst ever. It was from 'Leaving New York' and the lyric was 'leaving was never my proud' because he switched a part of speech. Spinner? Hello!! Where have you been for 25 years! Stipe has been fucking with language since the internet was the military and Al Gore in his basement on a Commodore 64. Stipe's greatest strength is his ability to change tenses, pronouns, and nouns to verbs. Of particular note are Mills and Berry alternating 'I'll get there' and 'I've been there,' I also suspect that at times they are saying 'another way' but the sounds are too close together to make that call. Also, it's likely Stipe says 'by Jove,' but 'by Joan' is closer to what it sounds like, by John is another substitute possibility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD3cYh5Pp1I
CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE
When the world is a monster
Bad to swallow you whole
Kick the clay that holds the teeth in
Throw your trolls out the door
If you’re needing inspiration
Philomath is where I go, by Joan
Lawyer Jeff he knows the low down
He’s mighty bad to visit home, no
(I’ve been there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ve been there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
When your hands are feeling empty
Stick head jumping off the ground, ground
Driss is sure to shirr the deer out
Brother Ray to my song
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Hands down, caliche bound
Land locked, kiss the ground
The dirt of seven continents going round and round
Go on ahead, Mr. city-wide, hypnotized
Suit and tied
Gentlemen, testify
If the world is a monster
Bad to swallow you hole
Philomath they know the low-down
Throw your trolls out the door
(I’ve been there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ve been there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ve been there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ve been there I know the way)
Can’t get there from here
(I’ll get there I know the way)
Thank you, Ray
This was the song I was afraid of and really had a hard time with. However, in the end it's really easy and fun to play. The information on the internet is laughable. When you try this out, you'll see what I mean. I like how Peter can play the same chord twice in a row and make it sound like two chords, ie the E going into the lead in to the chorus and B at the end of the chorus. Also, feel free to lift the bar on the first B chord to simulate Mike Mills in the verse. I suspect that Mr. Buck is doing some other doodling with his pinkie in the verse, but it is superfluous. Enjoy!
CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE
Intro:
e|----------77777--------------|
B|----------77777-77-7-99-9----|
G|----------77777-77-7-99-9----|
D|----------------77-7-99-9----|
A|-2-0-------------------------|
E|----3-0----------------------|
Verse:
e|-----------7-------------7---7------|
B|-77-7>99-9-7---77-7>99-9-7---7------|
G|-77-7>99-9-8---77-7>99-9-8---9------|
D|-77-7>99-9-9---77-7>99-9-9---9------|
A|-----------7-------------7---7------|
E|-----------7-------------7---7------|
e|-------------------0-0--0-0---0-0----------|
B|--------------------0-0--0-0---0-0---------|
G|-9---10---8---5---4----4-----3----3-3------|
D|-9---11---9---6---5----5-----4----4-4------|
A|-7---11---9---6---5----5-----4----4-4-2-0--|
E|------9---7---4---3----3-----2----2-2----3-|
Chorus: x3
e|-0---0---2-------|
B|-0---2---2-------|
G|-1---2---3-------|
D|-2---2---4-------|
A|-2---0---4-2-0---|
E|-0---0---2----3--|
e|-0---0---2--------0-0--0-0--|
B|-0---2---2---------0-0--0-0-|
G|-1---2---3---6---8----8-----|
D|-2---2---4---7---9----9-----|
A|-2---0---4---7---9----9-----|
E|-0---0---2---5---7----7-----|
Middle Bridge:
e|-0---0>0---0>0<0---0----------------|
B|-0---0>0---0>0<0---0----------------|
G|-4---6>7---7>9<6---8----------------|
D|-4---6>7---7>9<7---9----------------|
A|-2---4>5---5>7<7---9----------------|
E|-0---0>0---0>0<5---7----------------|
End:
e|-0-0-0-0----------------------|
B|-0-0-0-3----------------------|
G|-1-1-1-1----------------------|
D|-2-2-0-0----------------------|
A|-2-2-2-2----------------------|
E|-0-0-0-0----------------------|
-BW
or "bad too—swallow you whole" ;-)
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