MONSTER: YOU

  Here we are at the end of MONSTER and one of my all time favorite songs. Allegedly, the band stopped playing it after Michael had surgery for a hernia he got through "hard singing." I have no doubt that YOU involves hard singing, but surely they've adjusted songs before when notes and harmonies couldn't be hit--it's a shame this one went on the live scrap heap. This song is the perfect wrap to an album where Stipe explored perversity and sexuality by dealing with obsession. The only question with this "monster" is whether this is a one sided obsession or one that is requited. As for the lyrics, they don't really shed light on the reciprocity of the relationship as most of the personal details are in the verse that is a dream. This is Stipe at his most poetic, particularly because he is not trying to cram too many words and meanings into the narrative, but letting the music guide him. Plus, the choral quality of the last word of the album just gives it a nice final bow.
  The lyrics in the 25th Anniversary definitely helped here in some ways and are wrong in others. The most confounding line is in the lyrics where Michael has 'Shout out the Moon' which I think is revisionist. In the remastered recording you can make an argument, but in the remix and live versions it's closer to what I had originally and now I stand by 'child balloon.' In addition, in the lyric sheets he changes the 'ring' around to 'wing' around? Saturn smile? Way to take a brilliant play on words and change it in print for no reason.

YOU

Let the sun beat through the clouds
Let me kiss you on the mouth
All my childhood toys with chew marks in my smile
Let me hold your syrup close to mine
And I want you Hollywood and Vine
And I watch you like the movies

Touch me now

I love you crazy

Just keep on
I love you madly

Just keep on
You wipe my lips
You turn me on
My attentions are turned to you

Did I dream you were a tourist in the Arizona sun?
I could see you there with lunar moths and watermelon gum
I woke up in the sleeping bag with nowhere else to run

(Nowhere else to run)
You're standing in the bathroom telling me it’s all in fun

No
I love you crazy

Just keep on
I love you madly

Just keep on
You wipe my lips
You turn me on
My attentions are turned to you

I can whisper in your ear
I can write a calendar year

(Write a calendar year)
I can ring around your Saturn smile your child balloon

I walk the tension wire line
And I learned to disrespect the signs
And I want you like a Pisces rising

Key the moon

I love you crazy

Just keep on
I love you madly

Just keep on
You wipe my lips
You turn me on
My attentions are turned to you

You

You

You



  This is a frighteningly easy song, but rhythmically intricate. The timing is crucial, so playing along with the song a couple of times to get it right is the key. The bend from the chorus of ITEOTWAWKI (AIFF) makes a reappearance. Also, at the end of the chorus, feel free to walk up to the D from the C although this is done with the bass and keyboard on the track. I'm conflicted on the chorus because in the studio there are two guitars (at least) happening, but live you can play the bend by switching the finger on the b-string which also keeps the rest of the C chord in tact so that's what I have below.

YOU

Verse

e|-0--------------0-6---6-6-0-0-0--0---0-3--|

B|-3--------------3-6---6-6-0-3--3-3---3-3--|

G|-2---0-2h0p--0--2-7---7-7-0-2----2---2-2--|

D|-0---------3h-0-0-----------0----0---0-0--|

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

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

Chorus 

e|-0---0--|

B|-1---5b-|

G|-0---0--|

D|-2---2--|

A|-3---3--|

E|-0---0--|