COLLAPSE INTO NOW: OH MY HEART

This is the last of the songs that have been publicly released from the new album due in a week and a half.  I will pick up some of the other new songs as I go along, but I'm not sure what the timeframe will be.  This song is described by M. Stipe as the character from "Houston" returning to New Orleans with a broken, but hopeful attitude.



OH MY HEART
The kids have a new take
A new take on faith
Pick up the pieces
Get carried away
I came home to a city half erased
I came home to face what we faced

This place needs me here to start
This place is the beat of my heart

Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)

The storm didn't kill me
The government changed
Hear the answer call
Hear the song rearranged
Hear the trees, the ghosts, and the buildings sing
With the wisdom to reconcile this thing

It's sweet and it's sad and it's true
How it doesn't look bitter on you

Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)

Mother and father
I stand beside you
The good of this world
Might help see me through

This place needs me here to start
This place is the beat of my heart

Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)
Oh my heart
(Oh my heart)


As always, the mandolin is included.  There is an interesting overlap between mandolin an guitar where the guitar stays on the verse and the mandolin moves onto the chorus.  This could be what gives it its different tonality.  Or I could be wrong, but that's how it sounds to me.

OH MY HEART

Intro:

e|-(5)------------|

B|---(6)-0>0-0-0--|

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

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

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

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

Verse/Bridge to chorus:

e|-0-0-0-3-1---1-1---|

B|-1-1-1-0-3---3-3---|

G|-2-0-0-0-2---0-2---|

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

A|-0-2-3-2-----------|

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

Mandolin

Verse:

e|-000000000000000333331111100011111---|

A|-000002222233333000000000000000000---|

D|-000000000000000000003333322233333---|

G|-------------------------------------|

Mandolin

Bridge to Chorus/Chorus:

e|-0---3---1---1-----|

A|-3---2---0---0-----|

D|-2---0---3---3-----|

G|-0---0---0---0-----|

Chorus:

e|-0---3---1---------|

B|-1---3---3---------|

G|-0---0---2---------|

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

A|-3---2-------------|

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

Middle Bridge:

e|-6---5---1---3---6---5---4---|

B|-6---5---1---3---6---5---4---|

G|-7---5---2---4---7---5---5---|

D|-8---7---3---5---8---7---6---|

A|-8---7---3---5---8---7---6---|

E|-6---5---1---3---6---5---4---|

Mandolin:

e|-000000000000000000000000000000000--|

A|-111100000000000011110000000000000--|

D|-000000003333555500000000666666667--|

G|------------------------------------|

End:

e|-1---3---5---3---0-----|

B|-3---5---6---5---1-----|

G|-2---4---5---4---2-----|

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

A|-----------------0-----|

E|-----------------0-----|

Mandolin

e|-1---3---5---3---1---|

A|-0---0---0---0---0---|

D|-3---------------3---|

G|-0---------------0---|

COLLAPSE INTO NOW: UBERLIN

This is my favorite track from CIN, it would've fit in well on Automatic For The People or Up.  The lyrics are great and the whole song just fits together quite nicely. It's amazing how the lyrics give me a complete story of a night in Berlin. The feeling, the not unwelcome desolation, but also the inevitable loneliness. It makes me wish the band had one more tour left in them, just one last stand only playing these songs from the new album.




UBERLIN
Hey now take your pills
And
Hey now make your breakfast
Hey now comb your hair and off to work

Crash land no illusions
No collision no intrusion
My imagination run away

I know, I know, I know what I am chasing
I know, I know, I know that this is changing me

I am flying on a star into a meteor tonight
I am flying on a star (a star, a star)
I will make it through the day and then the day becomes the night
I will make it through the night

Hey now take the u-bahn
Five stops, change the station
Hey now don't forget the change will save you

Hey now count a thousand million people
That's astounding
Chasing through the city with their stars on bright

I know, I know, I know what I am chasing
I know, I know, I know that this is changing me

I am flying on a star into a meteor tonight
I am flying on a star (a star, a star)
I will make it through the day and then the day becomes the night
I will make it through the night

I don't mind repeating
I am not complete
I have never been the gifted type

Hey man
Tell me something
Are you off to somewhere?
Do you want to go with me tonight?

I know, I know, I know that this is changing
We walk the streets to feel the ground
I'm chasing Uberlin

I am flying on a star into a meteor tonight
I am flying on a star (a star, a star)
I will make it through the day and then the day becomes the night
I will make it through the night


I don't know how this picking pattern feels like breathing. It's an effortless feel that doesn't really have a peer in the R.E.M. catalog. It's almost as if Peter woke up the morning he wrote this and thought he might as well compress everything he'd learned into one track. One of the more challenging songs to play.

UBERLIN

Intro/Transition Riff:
e|------------|

B|-3-1--------|

G|----3-2-0---|

D|------------|

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

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

Verse (Guitar 1):

e|-3-------------1----------|

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

G|-3-3-2---------2--2-------|

D|-5----3--------0---3------|

A|-5------------------------|

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

Verse (Guitar 2):

e|-3--3---1--1---1--1---1--1---|

B|-3---3--3---3--3---3--1---1--|

G|-3----0-3----0-2----0-2----0-|

D|-5-5----3-3----0-0----3-3----|

A|-5------1-------------3------|

E|-3------1-------------1------|

Verse (Guitar 1):

e|-3-------------1----|

B|-3-------------1----|

G|-3-3-2---------2----|

D|-5----3--------3----|

A|-5-------------3----|

E|-3-------------1----|

Verse (Guitar 2):

e|-3--3---1--1---1--1--1--1---|

B|-3---3--3---3--1---1--1--1--|

G|-3----0-3----0-2----0--0--0-|

D|-5-5----3-3----3-3----------|

A|-5------1------3------------|

E|-3------1------1------------|

Chorus

e|------------------------------------------1--1--1----|

B|---4--4--4------3--3--3------4--4--4-------3--3--3---|

G|--3-3--3--3----2-2--2--2----3-3--3--3----2--2--2--2--|

D|-5---5--5--5--0---0--0--0--5---5--5--5--0------------|

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

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

e|-3-3---3-3---1-1---1-1----|

B|-4--4--3--3--3--3--1--1---|

G|-5---5-3---3-3---3-2---2--|

D|-5-----5-----3-----3------|

A|-3-----5-----1-----3------|

E|-3-----3-----1-----1------|

e|-3-3---3-3---1----------------------|

B|-4--4--3--3--3--3--3--3--3-3-1------|

G|-5---5-3---3-2---2--2--2------3-2-0-|

D|-5-----5-----0-0--0--0--0-----------|

A|-3-----5----------------------------|

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

Middle Bridge:

Guitar 1

e|-4---4---3---3---6---6---6------|

B|-4---4---3---3---6---6---6------|

G|-6---6---5---5---8---8---7------|

D|-6---6---5---5---8---8---8------|

A|-4---4---3---3---6---6---8---x2-|

E|-4---4---3---3---6---6---6------|

Guitar 2

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

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

G|-6---6-8-5---5-6-8---8-10-7----|

D|-x---x-x-x---x-x-x---x--x-x----|

A|-4---4-6-3---3-4-6---6--8-5----|

E|----------------------------x2-|

End on Gm

COLLAPSE INTO NOW: IT HAPPENED TODAY

This track took a little longer to figure out as it was the first that I had to add mandolin to.  For those of you who play guitar, you really should learn mandolin as well ... it's pretty simple comparatively.  The lyrics in this song are not exactly rocket science, however seeing that the band released a lyric video (below) why are the lyrics incorrect on lyrics websites already!
  Anyway, it's a fun track and as I've said reminiscent of "Sanctuary" by Grant Lee Buffalo on which, Michael Stipe appeared way back in the late Nineties.  Here, we get Eddie Vedder in his R.E.M. guest spot debut ... moaning.  I don't know, but when I first heard a track was going to have Eddie Vedder I thought maybe he would say something.  Still a cool track though and there's no denying his addition adds to the mix very nicely.  Speaking of mixes, you can hear a ton of mixes of this song by fans, and yours truly, at Soundcloud.  The band released the tracks to the public (has that ever been done before? Well, certainly not by R.E.M.) for everyone to create their version of the song.  The tracks are a little choppy, but it made it so much easier to learn how to play the song ... thanks, guys!



IT HAPPENED TODAY

This is not a parable
This is a terrible
This is a terrible thing

Yes I will rhyme that after
After all I've done today
I have earned my wings

It happened today, hooray, hooray
It happened, hip, hip, hooray

We'll leave the allegory to another bible story
Out of deference, defiance, and choice
And close in on a promise after
After all I've done today
I have earned my voice

It happened today, hooray, hooray
It happened, hip, hip, hooray


IT HAPPENED TODAY

Intro:

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

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

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

D|-10-----10-10--10-10--10--10-10--10-10--|

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

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

Verse:

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

B|-3-3-3-3-2-2-2---3-3-3-3-3----|

G|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---4-4-4-4-0----|

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

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

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

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

B|-3-3-3-3-2-2-2---0---0--0--0--0---|

G|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---0----0--0--0--0--|

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

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

E|-----------------0----------------|

Chorus:

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

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

G|-0----0--0--0-2----2--2--2---|

D|-2-2----------2-2------------|

A|-3------------0--------------|

E|-0---------------------------|

Mandolin

e|-0000000000000000------------------|

A|-22222222222222220000000000000000--|

D|-----------------2222222222222222--|

G|-----------------------------------|

Bridge to End:

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

B|-3---3---2---2------|

G|-0---2---2---2------|

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

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

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

Mandolin:

e|-3---2---0-2---5----|

A|-2---0---0-0---4----|

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

G|-0---2---2-2---2----|

Transition Bridge:

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

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

G|-5-5--5--5--5-4----4--4--4-2----2--2--2-0----0--0--0-|

D|-5------------4------------2-2----------2-2----------|

A|-3------------2-------------------------2------------|

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

Mandolin:

Strum/Pick first chord, jangle note

e|-0------------x------------5------------0------------|

A|-3-3333333333-2-2222222222-4-0000000000-2------------|

D|-5------------0------------2------------2-2222222222-|

G|-0------------3------------2------------0------------|

LIFES RICH PAGEANT: SUPERMAN

I debated about whether to include cover songs as part of this blog.  As a rule I suppose I will include the R.E.M. cover versions that they truly make their own.  That said, this version of The Clique's Superman is incredibly faithful to the original, but there is something to be said for the fact that this is the first cover R.E.M. enjoyed enough to put on an album.  There is also something to the earnest lyrics from Mike Mills and the slight tweaking of the guitar parts by Peter Buck that freshen up the Cliques version.  I've posted them both below so you can be the judge ...
  This is also the end of Life's Rich Pageant.  What have I learned?  Well, things are getting more intricate ... it's hard to transpose an album when all you have is an acoustic guitar ... and R.E.M. still have a penchant for sneaky lyrics and fun tablature.  They are still a very thoughtful recording group at this juncture and perhaps this was the album where they became comfortable in their skin.  Up next is a slight detour from major releases into Dead Letter Office.  There are cover songs abound so as I said above I will only transcribe the song if I feel the band has added something to the discourse of the original song.





SUPERMAN

(Very fast and in Japanese)
This is a special news report. Godzilla has been sighted in Tokyo Bay. The attack on it by the self-defense force has been useless. He is heading towards the city.

I am (I am)
I am Superman and I know what’s happening
I am (I am)
I am Superman and I can do anything

You don’t really love that guy you make it with now do you
I know you don’t love that guy cause I can see right through you

I am (I am)
I am Superman and I know what’s happening
I am (I am)
I am Superman and I can do anything

If you go a million miles away I’ll track you down girl
Trust me when I say I know the pathway to your heart

If you go a million miles away I’ll track you down girl
Trust me when I say I know the pathway to your heart

I am
I am Superman and I know what’s happening
I am (I am)
I am Superman and I can do anything (ho, ho)
I am (I am)
I am Superman and I know what’s happening (ho, ho)
I am (I am)
I am Superman and I can do anything

SUPERMAN

Intro:

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

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

G|-1---1---1---1---1---1---1---1----|

D|-2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2----|

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

E|-0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0----|

Verse/Chorus:

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

B|-0---2---2---0-------------|

G|-1---2---2---1---9-7-------|

D|-2---2---2---2------9-7-5--|

A|-2---0---0---2----CHORUS---|

E|-0---0---0---0-----ONLY----|

Middle Bridge:

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

B|-3-3-3-2-2-2-5-5---5-5------|

G|-2-2-2-2-2-2----0-1---0-1---|

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

A|-------0-0-0-----------x3---|

E|-------0-0-0----------------|

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

B|-3-3-3-2-2-2-|

G|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|

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

A|-------0-0-0-|

E|-------0-0-0-|

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

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

G|-1--1--1---6-----------------1---1--1--|

D|-2---------7--7--7----7--7---2---------|

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

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

End:

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

B|-3-3-3-2-2-2---0-|

G|-2-2-2-2-2-2---9-|

D|-0-0-0-2-2-2---9-|

A|-------0-0-0---7-|

E|-------0-0-0---0-|

LIFES RICH PAGEANT: SWAN SWAN H

Mike Mills once said that he found the title of this song the most pretentious, as has Michael who has at various occasions apologized for it.  The song is said to be about the civil war, but as always, it is a collection of thoughts and pictures from the mind of Stipe.  That said, the song does conjure up images of the era of North vs South, helped primarily by "Johnny Reb" to put us in the time and place.  It's a lovely song that for some reason seems longer than it really is ... below is a version from the documentary "Athens, GA: Inside Out."
  I have a special place in my heart for this song as it is the first I played on guitar in front of an audience.  My friends Ryan, Jeff, and I went to an Open Mic night in the middle of nowhere and played a medley of "Working Class Hero" by John Lennon and this song which worked extremely well.  At the point in "Hero" when he says the word fuck, Jeff sang it and then immediately apologized during the song some thing like this: "Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules.  (sorry)  A working class hero is something to be."  After the show, a big burly country-western type guy came up to us and said, "Never apologize."  I've never forgotten that.



SWAN SWAN H

Swan swan hummingbird
Hurrah, we’re all free now
What noisy cats are we
Girl and dog he bore his cross

Swan swan hummingbird
Hurrah, we’re all free now
Long low time ago, people talked to me

Johnny Reb what’s the price of fans
Forty a piece or three for one dollar?
Hey captain don’t you want to buy
Some bone chains and toothpicks?

Night wings her hair chains
Here’s your wooden greenback sing
Wooden beams and dovetail sweep
I struck that picture ninety times
I walked that path a hundred ninety
Long low time ago, people talked to me

A pistol hot cup of rhyme
The whiskey is water, the water is wine
Marching feet, Johnny Reb
What’s the price of heroes?

Six and one half, a dozen the other
Tell that to the captain’s mother
Hey captain don’t you want to buy
Some bone chains and toothpicks?

Night wings her hair chains
Swan swan hummingbird
Hurrah, we’re all free now
What noisy cats are we
Long low time ago, people talked to me

A pistol hot cup of rhyme
The whiskey is water
The water is wine.

The real trick in this song is the 12 string guitar.  Peter has used it to great effect before, but this song thrives on it.  And why not?  It's two octaves for the price of one.  I believe the lead is also done as two octaves in the recording, not sure if it's with a 12 string or with separate guitars though.

SWAN SWAN H

Intro

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

B|--1---------1-----------|

G|--2---------2-----------|

D|--2---0-2h--2---0-2h----|

A|-0--------0-------------|

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

Verse

Guitar 1

e|--0---------1-----------|

B|--1---------3-----------|

G|--2---------2---0-2h----|

D|--2---0-2h--------------|

A|-0----------------------|

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

Guitar 2

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

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

G|--------------------------|

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

A|-0-2-3-----0-0-2-3--------|

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

Chorus

Guitar 1

e|-0---0---1---1-------------------|

B|-0---0---1---1-------------------|

G|-0---0---2---2-------------------|

D|-2---2---3---3-------------------|

A|-2---2---3---3-------------------|

E|-0---0---1---1-------------------|

Guitar 2

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

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

G|----------------------|

D|----------------------|

A|-2-0-2-3-0-2-0-2-3----|

E|--3-------1-3------x2-|

Middle Bridge

Guitar 1

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

B|-3---3---3---3---1---1---3---3--|

G|-0---0---4---4---0---0---2---2--|

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

A|-2---2---2---2---3---3----------|

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

Guitar 2

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

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

G|--------------------------------------|

D|-5-555-4-4---4-----------------4-5----|

A|--------7-7-5-7-777-5-7-5-555-7----x2-|

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

COLLAPSE INTO NOW: MINE SMELL LIKE HONEY

As I said with Discoverer, I am going to attempt to tab these songs off of the new album as they are available.  Well, there are now five available tracks before the official March 8 release date, so I'm not sure if that will happen.  So, I decided on "Mine Smell Like Honey" as it is the first new track with an official video (below) and is quite good.  It is more in line with the quick tracks from Accelerate, but perhaps a little more depth.  Since I try not to interpret here too much there will be no speculation on what Michael possesses that smells like honey.



MINE SMELL LIKE HONEY

I would dare you, but I know I don’t need to
You’re going to do just what you want to
You’re going to take the leading chair at the fairground
You’re going to sing the praises of your fruit

Mine smell like honey, unh
Mine smell like honey, unh
Mine smell like huh, huh, huh, huh, honey, unh

(If you fall)
Dig a hole, dig it deeper, deeper
(If you fall)
Climb a mountain, climb it steeper, steeper
(If you fall)
Dig a hole, dig it deeper, deeper
Track a trail of honey through it all

If the end comes faster than we had expected
And predictions lead us to the final fall
If the flowers crack the grain the weave the patterns of the pavement
I can hear you shouting over it all

Mine smell like honey, unh
Mine smell like honey, unh
Mine smell like huh, huh, huh, huh, honey, unh

(If you fall)
Dig a hole, dig it deeper, deeper
(If you fall)
Climb a mountain, climb it steeper, steeper
(If you fall)
Dig a hole, dig it deeper, deeper
Track a trail of honey through it all

(If you fall)
Dig a hole, dig it deeper, deeper
(If you fall)
Climb a mountain, climb it steeper, steeper
(If you fall)
Dig a hole, dig it deeper, deeper
Track a trail of honey through it all

You track a trail of honey through it all
You track a trail of honey


This is a fun guitar song with a few goodies in it, like the intro, solo, and ending.  Love the F#m variation. There are a few guitars involved and you can play the song with whole chords, D-G-A, etc ... but where's the fun in that.  Also, during the last chorus, a second guitar plays 15-19-17 on the high e and b strings ...

MINE SMELL LIKE HONEY

Intro:

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

B|-0-0-0-2---5---2---2-3-5--|

G|-9-6-4-2---2---2---2-2-2--|

D|-9-6-4-2---2---2---2-2-2--|

A|-7-4-2-0---0---0---0-0-0--|

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

Verse:
e|-0---0---0--0--0--0----------|

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

G|-7---4---6-6--6--6--6--------|

D|-7---5---7-------------------|

A|-5---5---7-------------------|

E|-0---3---5-------------------|

Bridge to Chorus:

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

B|-0---0--0--0--4---4--4--4-------|

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

D|-4------------4-------------x2--|

A|-4------------2-----------------|

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

Chorus:

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

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

G|-9---8---6------4---8---6-------|

D|-9---9---7-x3---5---9---7-------|

A|-7---9---7------5---9---7-------|

E|-0---7---5------3---7---5-------|

Guitar 2
e|-00000-0------0000000000000000---|
B|-99979-7------5554444455544444---|
G|--------9-8-6-4444444444444444---|

 

Middle Bridge Guitar 1:

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

B|-0---0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0---0--0--0--3---3-2-|

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

D|-4------------5------------4------------0-----2-|

A|-4------------5------------4------------------0-|

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

Guitar 2:

e|-14--------14-7----------7-14--------14-10-9---|

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

Guitar 1:

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

B|-0---0--0--0--4---4--4--4--5--4-|

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

D|-4------------4------------4--4-|

A|-4------------2------------2--2-|

E|-0------------0------------0--0-|

Guitar 2:

e|-14--------14-7----------7-7-|

B|--0---------0-0----------0-5-|

Guitar 3:

e|--------------------------19-|

B|--------------------------19-|

End:

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

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

G|-4---8---8---2---|

D|-5---9---9---2---|

A|-5---9---9---4---|

E|-3---7---7---0---|