FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION: GREEN GROW THE RUSHES

If you've been wondering where the political Michael Stipe is, look no further.  He emerges on the second half of this album.  A not so faithful representation of the Irish folk song, although the chorus is fairly similar, Rushes is a diatribe about the treatment illegal immigrants--but are they offered a pound because the song was recorded in London?  The song is rarely performed, but you can see a version on YouTube that is extremely faithful.  It's safe to say that this might be one of the songs Berry thinks 'sucked.'  It's a strange moment in R.E.M. history, the more narrative Stipe finds, the less he can deliver vocals with fervor.  He is enamored with the lyrics now and he wants to get them right.  If you ever witnessed an early R.E.M. show and then a later performance, you know what I mean.  It's difficult to flail about when you want to get a point across.  This is the beginning of what leads the band to Out Of Time.  It is also the type of music that make them perfect for the show that Unplugged five years after this.
  A great little song, I especially like the coda-like ending.  Embellishing the earlier riff into something a little more urgent.

GREEN GROW THE RUSHES
The wheelbarrow's fallen, look at my hands
They've found some surplus cheaper hands
Rubbing palms and pick and choose
Who will they choose?
Here is the news

Look at that building, look at this man
Haloed and whitewashed
Gone to find a cheaper hand
(Hand)
He'll offer a pound, offer a pound

Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
(Green grow the rushes go)
The compass points the workers home

Pay for your freedom, find another gate
Guilt by associate, the rushes wilted a long time ago
Guilty as you go

Stay off that highway, word is it's not so safe
The grasses that hide the greenback
The amber waves of gain, of gain
The amber waves of grain

Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
(Green grow the rushes go)
The compass points the workers home

La, la, la, la, la, lie
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)


Reportedly, Peter Buck wasn't a huge fan of this particular riff.  However, it was a tune that Stipe had lyrics for which surprised Buck.  Much of the riff is a rehash of '7 Chinese Bros' and another part of it is from 'Wolves, Lower.'  Put 'em together ... new song!  It's also becoming clear that the Buck likes D to G ... hey, has there ever been a better guitar chord pairing?  You be the judge.

GREEN GROW THE RUSHES

Intro/Chorus

e|--0------0--0--0------2-2--2--2-222222-------|

B|---2-3>5--3--3----x3--3--3--3---333333-------|

G|-2------4--4--4-------4---4--4--444444-------|

D|-0--------------------4---------444444-------|

A|----------------------2---------222222-------|

E|----------------------2---------222222-------|

Verse:

e|-2-2-2-3-2-3-3-3-------2-2-2-2-2-0-0------0---|

B|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-------3-3-3-3-3-0--0------0--|

G|-2-2-2-2-2-0-0-0-------4-4-4-4-4-1---1-1>2----|

D|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-4-4-4-4-4-2------------|

A|-----------2-2-2-0-2h--2-2-2-0-2-2------------|

E|-----------3-3-3-------2-2-2-0-2-0------------|

Bridge:

e|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|-14-14-14-12-11-12-12-12-12-11-9-11-11-11-11-9-7-7-7-7-9h-7-4>7-7-7-0-|

D|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-0--0--0--0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0-0-0-|

A|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

Outro:

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B|-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10------------------|

G|-11-11-11-12-11-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12------------------|

D|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0------------------|

A|------------------------------------------------------------|

E|------------------------------------------------------------|

e|--0--0--0--0--0--------------------|

B|-10-10-10-10-10--------------------|

G|-11-11-11-12-11-11-12h-11--11-11---|

D|--0--0--0--0--0----------12-----12-|

A|-----------------------------------|

E|-----------------------------------|

e|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-0---------0--------------------|

B|-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-8-8--7----5-5-5-5-5-7h-5-5-----|

G|-11-11-11-12-11-12-12-12-12-11-9--9--9---6-------------7------|

D|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-0---9--9--7--------------------|

A|--------------------------------------------------------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------------------|

End:

e|----------0-0-0-0-0-----2-2-2-3-2--|

B|--8--7----5-5-5-5-5-----3-3-3-3-3--|

G|---9--9---6-6-6-6-6-x3--2-2-2-0-2--|

D|----9--9--7-7-7-7-7-----0-0-0-0-0--|

A|------------------------------2----|

E|------------------------------3----|