THE AUTOMATIC BOX SET: ARMS OF LOVE

  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)

Into the arms of love

(Love love, love low, love low, love low)

(Into the arms)

Into the arms of love

   Very simple chords here ... no guitar solo ... 

ARMS OF LOVE

Verse

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

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

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

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

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

E|-3---0---3---0-3---3---1---0---|

Chorus

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

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

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

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

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

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