This is a very faithful cover of The Tokens cover of a Weavers arrangement of a South African folk song by Solomon Linda called "Mbube" or lion. The lyrics were added for The Tokens' version although at first they were not taken with the lyrics. This of course means that the song rocketed to the #1 position on the music charts in 1961. It's a great track and has been covered a million times over. R.E.M. just added the drum machine ... must be Bill on the deep part ...
THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT
In the jungle
The quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle
The mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the village
The quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight
In the village
The peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush my darling
Don't cry my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush my darling
Don't cry my darling
The lion sleeps tonight
In this version, the trombone replaces the sax and the Slide replaces the operatic voice of Anita Darian. I've tabbed both.
So for this one, I am not including any tab. It is recorded with all piano and since it is not an R.E.M. original track, I'll not attempt it. It should be noted that in Syd Barrett's version it is all guitar. As you listen to the tracks you'll find that they are structurally similar, but their tempo and theme are vastly different. Of course I prefer R.E.M.'s version, but perhaps that is because it is cleaner.
DARK GLOBE
Oh where are you now? Pussy willow that smiled on my sleeve When I was alone You promised a stone from your heart My head kissed the ground I was half the way down Treading the sand Please Please lift a hand I'm only a person Whose armbands beat on his hands hang tall
Won't you miss me? Why don't you miss me at all?
My head touched the ground I was half the way down Strumming the sand Please lift a hand I'm only a person With eskimo chain You tattered my brain all the way
The beauty of R.E.M. covers is that the band is focused on adding or introducing new takes on songs that are great, but that might not have been outrageously popular. I heard R.E.M.'s version of this song before Robyn Hitchcock's, but when I heard the original I was blown away by how different they really are. Different lyrics, different chord progression, different approach, two takes on the same theme. They are both quite brilliant. I particularly like how Mr. Stipe changes the last verse to be more monumental, the idea that heartbreak feels like the end of the world. Late in the background vocals Bill is definitely alternating Love and low and at one point sounds like he's saying loave like singular loaves (which should be loaf), but he likely is just messing with the alternation. As with previous covers posts, below are both versions.
ARMS OF
LOVE
Maybe tonight you're achin’
For someone you're dreamin’ of
Tomorrow you (will) will be wakin’
(Into the arms)
Into the arms of love
Maybe tonight you're cryin’
Like a poor wounded dove
Tell me you'll soon be flying
(Into the arms)
Into the arms of love
Maybe tonight you're takin’
You couldn't get enough
Honey you'll soon be wakin’
(Into the arms)
Into the arms of love
Maybe the world is fallin’
(Love love, love low, love low, love low)
It wasn't strong enough
(Love love, love low, love low, love low)
Tell me you'll soon be crawlin’
(Love love, love low, love low, love low)
(Into the arms)
Into the arms of love
(Love love, love low, love low, love low)
(Into the arms)
A companion piece to the first installment only in that they were both written in New Orleans. This one is really all keyboards, but the line lends easily enough to guitar that I went ahead and tabbed. Below are the long form version of the notes, there actually is more variation on the recording, but if you play along to the song, you'll be able to pick those moments out easily enough. During the bass breakdown, just play the bass notes of the Verse Chords.
Another fun little instrumental track. Again, I suspect that these are laid down in the studio by the three musicians for the use of Michael Stipe when choosing songs to put lyrics to. Some I'm sure are just the guys doodling around in the studio. In both cases it seems that when the group think they've hit upon something interesting they run with it. Some interesting informational tidbits about how the band works come from these sessions. Peter Buck once said he's often surprised by Michael's choice of lyrical options, sometimes having the group expand on a small portion of what he's been given as opposed to writing lyrics to a completely composed piece. I've added the bass line opening here and have conceded Peter's non-barre chord F for once.
FRUITY ORGAN
Bass Riff Verse
e|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------|
D|-----2-3-2-----2----2-3-2-0----|
A|--2-3-----5-3-5--2-3-------3---|
E|-3--------------3-----------3--|
Verse
e|-3---0---1---1---|
B|-3---1---1---1---|
G|-0---0---2---2---|
D|-0---2---3---3---|
A|-2---3---0---0---|
E|-3---0---1---1---|
Chorus
e|-0---0---0---1---|
B|-1---1---1---2---|
G|-2---2---0---3---|
D|-2---2---2---0---|
A|-0---0---3-------|
E|-0---0---0-------|
e|-0-0-1----------0---1--|
B|-0-1-2----------1---2--|
G|-0-2-3----------0---3--|
D|-2-2-0----------2---0--|
A|-2-0--3-2-0-----3------|
E|-0-0-------(x3)-0------| End with three quick verse chords ...
This song is pretty much what it says it is ... some claim it was a precursor of Losing My Religion, but it was likely just any number of tracks the band cut for Michael to listen to. It doesn't really play like Religion at all ...
Allegedly, this was supposed to be a track on a Batman movie soundtrack. Somehow I doubt it, but you never know. This track, along with a lot of Phish songs eventually found its way to regular rotation on the Weather Channel's local weather breaks.
WINGED
MAMMAL THEME
Batman
Batman
Batman
Batman
Batman
Batman
Batman
Batman
The chord changes in this song are a lot of fun. I converted the opening piano line to guitar. With these instrumental tracks, I will only be posting guitar and mandolin ... sorry, no piano which means that Organ Song will be skipped ...
A fun little song in the box set with stream of consciousness lyrics from Stipe. The track is largely electronic and looped, but there is some guitar. The story seems to be the chance encounters two people share. There is a point where it sounds like he says "Are you Holden?" as in Holden Caulfield, which is a nice reference to Catcher in the Rye, but I can't say for sure if this is accurate upon further listens. I've kept the traditional notation here. It is also difficult to make out what the name of the park is where the playgrounds meet, so I've put a sound alike in "Viewer's Park." Other posts have Weaver's Park, but it doesn't quite fit unless Stipe is fouling up the pronunciation ...
CHANCE
Chance, chance, chance, chance
Friday bank card yours got stuck
I loaned you a phone quarter
Said "Good luck"
Where are you now?
Me in glasses
Saturday slump
You window shopping
I looked up
Our eyes met, mine are green
You had had a peroxide thing
Call now
Hook me up
Sunday walk
Viewer's Park
I was on the lakeside
Where the playgrounds meet
In bare feet
You said, "Mighty cold today"
You never see what I think
You didn't like your daytime job
I was born to travel
You were a camera
I dropped my keys
I on the northbound
You were asleep
I said, "Are you holding?"
"You wanna ride the silent sky?"
I wrote a story on the fly
You and the tabletop
I said, "I've had enough of this city"
I held a bag of apples
You at the last table
I had had a soy dog
Cafe street side
Tuesday bloom
You wanna be on fire
I said I’d hung the moon
Wednesday grocery
Corner of Vine
You were in the checkout line
I dropped my frozen dinners you helped pick them up
Thursday cab
Rush hour block
You with broken accent
My heart stopped
You laughed, I worried
Chance, chance, chance, chance
Swarming like a dozen crushing blows
All those glances
Midtown dances
Chance
I never looked it up
You hit the sidewalk talking
Said, "I'd read the ads"
Do you?
Where are you?
Will you read this?
Can I see?
Is the city moving faster than I can think?
A minute shy
A passing eye
I know I saw you there
Will you read this?
Can I see you?
What did I see?
Chance, chance, chance, chance
Swimming like a dozen crushing blows
All those midtown dances
Chance
Guys, this is very tedious
Stop
I've added the notes from the accordion sound at the chorus ...
This is kind of a dark one. It's nice to have Kate Pierson again, but where's the party? This track was also recorded during the Out Of Time sessions, but the tone is fairly similar to Me In Honey, so why force it on an album. The song ended up on the soundtrack to the movie "Until The End Of The World." The group played it live for a while and then chucked it. In fact, most of the solutions for the lyrics came from an Unplugged live show. The phrase "No need this friendship" is almost indiscernible on the recording, but on the Unplugged show ... clear as a bell!
FRETLESS
He's got his work and she comes easy
They each come around when the other is gone
Me, I think I got stuck somewhere in between
I wouldn't confide in the prodigal son
The die has been cast
The battle is won
The bullets were blanks
A double aught gun
I couldn't admit to a minute of fun
They come and they come and they come and they come
I accepted with a gentle tongue
No word spoken
No need this gift
Take it
Stomp twice
Ring the bell
Tether that ring in phrase
Enough with the rifle and talk already
We all know what it means
Take this conversation to your great divide
I can only swallow what I ate
And I don't hate him
And I don't hate her
They come and they come and they come and they come
I accepted with a gentle tongue
No heart broken
No need this gift
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
Reach for each other before you leave
Reach peace with a e-a-c
Don't threaten me with a gentle tease
Don't threaten me with angry
Please, please, please
(Please, please, please, please, please)
Don't try to tell me what I am
They come and they come and they come and they come
I accepted with a gentle tongue
No word spoken
No need this friendship
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
(Don't talk to me)
Don't talk to me
(Talk to me)
Don't talk to me
(Don't talk to me)
(Talk to me)
Don't talk to me
(Talk to me)
Don't talk to me about being alone
Figuring out the picking chorus on this was icing on the cake. The form is an unbarred G and F with the G String open, but live Buck just goes straight to the E and B Strings respectively. Easier to play. The pick out of the Bridge is great too ... same chord as Madonna of The Wasps intro by Robyn Hitchcock.
This track was recorded in studio and the group felt it didn't fit the feel of an album, but it's a good tune. So, it was offered up to soundtracks. It began it's life on the Coneheads movie soundtrack and eventually found its way to an episode of Friends and that show's soundtrack. I always liked the idea/ motif of physical action in a song. Particularly hitting one's head. This is also visited in depth in the Mono Puff (John Flansberg) song: Unsupervised.
IT’S A FREE WORLD BABY
I was hungry when I said
I never got to sleep
You go ahead
You can get whatever you want
There's a feeling in my belly
It's the new tomorrow scene
It's an interesting job
It's the fireworks
I don't need it
(I don't need it)
I hit my head
(He hit his head)
I can't feel anything
You gave too much away
You came to say
It's a free world baby
And you gave too much away hey, hey
Get whatever you want
Give whatever you want
Me, I'm tired of this candy
My teeth ache my head
Boys in bed, girls in bed
All now go to sleep
Sleep, sweet dreams
Wake to a new today tomorrow
I don't need it
(I don't need it)
I hit my head
(He hit his head)
I can't feel anything
You gave too much away
You came to say
It's a free world baby
And you gave too much away
It's a free world baby
Get whatever you want
Give whatever you want
Boys in bed, girls in bed
(Get to get to get, give to give to give, take to take to take, want)
All now go to sleep
(Get to get to get, give to give to give, take to take to take, want)
Sleep, sweet dreams
(Get to get to get, give to give to give, take to take to take, want)
Wake to a new today tomorrow
(Get to get to get, give to give to give, take to take to take, want)
Sleep, sweet dreams
(Get to get to get, give to give to give, take to take to take, want)
Wake to a new today tomorrow
(Get to get to get, give to give to give, take to take to take, want)
I don't need it
(I don't need it)
I hit my head
(He hit his head)
I can't feel anything
You gave too much away
You came to say
It's a free world baby
And you gave too much away
It's a free world baby
It's a free world baby
Boys in bed, girls in bed
All now go to sleep
Sleep, sweet dreams
Wake to a new today tomorrow
Sleep, sweet dreams
Wake to a new today tomorrow
A really cool song to play. For some reason the muted part was really hard to figure out, but in the end was worth it.
Here is the final track of the album. What I like most of all is that the feeling of the track is optimism and it creates a feeling that there is something next ... I mean, what is coming my way? It makes you want to listen to the album again. The lyrics and delivery of the lyrics here are very careful and descriptive, almost Robert Frost as song writer. It's almost unfair how effortless this song seems. Years ago this was voted by fans as their #1 favorite R.E.M. song. A surprise for sure as it was not a huge hit, it didn't even chart on Billboard, but it speaks to the dedication of the R.E.M. fan.
The backing vocals in particular drive this song, according to Mills, he and Berry went in and recorded without hearing the other. The result is fairly emotional.
Next, I will tackle some tracks that were recorded for release with the "Automatic Box" before moving on to Monster.
FIND THE RIVER
Hey now, little speedy head
The read on the speed meter says
You have to go
The task in the city
Where people drown and people serve
Don't be shy
Your just deserve is only just light years to go
Me, my thoughts are flower strewn
With ocean storm
Bayberry moon
I have got to leave to find my way
Watch the road and memorize
This life that pass before my eyes
Nothing is going my way
The ocean is the river's goal
The need to leave the water knows
We're closer now than light years to go
I have got to find the river
Bergamot and vetiver
Run through my head and fall away
Leave the road and memorize
This life that pass before my eyes
Nothing is going my way
There's no one left to take the lead
But I tell you and you can see
We're closer now than light years to go
Pick up here and chase the ride
The river empties to the tide
Fall into the ocean
The river to the ocean goes
A fortune for the undertow
None of this is going my way
There is nothing left to throw
Of Ginger, lemon, indigo
Coriander stem and rose of hay
Strength and courage override
Two privileged and weary eyes
Of river poet search naivete
Pick up here and chase the ride
The river empties to the tide
All of this is coming your way This is a nice, simple song. The highlight for me is the end, but I particularly like how Buck changes an Em7 to an A7sus4 with one finger change ... FIND THE RIVER
What is there to add to this song? There is an honesty and beauty here that is at the core of many R.E.M. tracks. It is also the first song that made me aware of Stipe's photographic mind. He mentions the photograph which brought to my attention that most of Stipe's observations are snapshots of life. His references and illusions fly by like the pages of a photograph album. This is what makes him so successful as an enigmatic writer. His lyrics for each song are like a great collage that has separate meaning in each individual picture. Also, unlike any other lyricist he seems to be able to draw the same effect out of his listeners as a photograph or painting. It is easier for the listener to arrive at their own conclusion about what the song is about or what it means to them personally.
The song luckily speaks for itself so I won't have to.
NIGHTSWIMMING
Nightswimming
Deserves a quiet night
The photograph on the dashboard,
Taken years ago
Turned around backwards so the windshield shows
Every streetlight
Reveals a picture in reverse
Still it's so much clearer
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge
The moon is low tonight
Nightswimming
Deserves a quiet night
I'm not sure all these people understand
It's not like years ago
The fear of getting caught
Of recklessness and water
They cannot see me naked
These things they go away
Replaced by everyday
Nightswimming
Remembering that night
September's coming soon
I'm pining for the moon
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
Could not describe nightswimming
You, I thought I knew you
You, I cannot judge
You, I thought you knew me
This one laughing quietly
Underneath my breath
Nightswimming
The photograph reflects
Every streetlight a reminder
Nightswimming
Deserves a quiet night
Deserves a quiet night
As with Perfect Circle, this song could be played even if you don't know how to play piano and read music. There are no chords and it doesn't require a heck of a lot of coordination. Just start banging along to the song and you'll be playing in no time. The following tab is piano tab, you can also find standard transcription online. If you want more specific instructions they are at tabnabber.com, but here are the basics:
1. L and R is Left hand Right hand 2. The numbers on the right are the octave groups. Middle c is octave 4. All octaves start on c. 3. The lowercase letters are the whole notes- white keys. 4. The uppercase (In this case only 1) is a sharp note- black key. 5. This symbol (>) means sustain the note. (I didn't use here) 6. This symbol (|) separates the measures.
Intro/Break:
L 2|g---g-b-|-------|g---g-b-|--------|
L 3|--------|c------|--------|d-------|
R 4|d-gab-g-|g------|d-gab-g-|d-------|
Verse:
L 2|g--g-b--|--------|g--g-b--|----a---|
L 3|-------d|c---d---|-------d|c-------|
R 4|-gbg-gg-|---bbaFe|-gbg-gg-|---bbage|
R 5|-------d|dcc-----|-------d|dcc-----|
L 2|---g--|----a-b-|
L 3|c---c-|d----d--|
R 4|gaegae|gadggFeF|
End on g.
I've also included ultra easy guitar chords to play along with, although there is no guitar in the song.
