NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI: BE MINE

Michael has said "I have written songs that are I think bordering on creepy or questionable, Be Mine topping the list." However, I think this is one of the strongest songs on the album and one of my favorites. It's also the first one I learned to play. You might recognize the guitar style as Mike Mills from his go on LET ME IN. In a documentary where Thom Yorke chose this song to sing with the band Mike admits the song is one he wrote and in a short clip on YouTube it is him on the guitar. There's a lovely version on youtube that is just Mike with a different, but similar Michael vocal that is very lovely. But it's the kicking in of the drums and orchestrations that move this song to the next level IMO. The song is beautiful if a little possessive.

BE MINE

"a speed zone up here too"

I never thought of this as funny
It speaks another world to me
I want to be your easter bunny
I want to be your christmas tree

I'll strip the world that you must live in
Of all its godforsaken greed
I'll ply the tar out of your feathers
I'll pluck the thorns out of your feet
You and me
You and me

You and me

And if I choose your sanctuary
I want to wash you with my hair
I want to drink of sacred fountains
And find the riches hidden there

I'll eat the lotus and peyote
I want to hear the caged bird sing
I want the secrets of the temple
I want the finger with the ring
You and me
You and me

You and me

And if you make me your religion
I'll give you all the room you need
I'll be the drawing of your breath
I'll be the cup if you should bleed

I'll be the sky above the Ganges
I'll be the vast and stormy sea
I'll be the lights that guide you inward
I'll be the visions you will see

The visions you will see

You will see
You will see
You and me
You and me
You and me

You and me

You and me

You and me



    As with most of the other tab you can find online for R.E.M. people just plain have it wrong, particularly the chorus. Mike is just as fond of open chords as Peter, but in a slightly more traditional power chord type of way. The highlights are the sliding E to B, the G#m set up for the F#m to F# open, and of course the switching from the D string riff to the A string riff to open the verses. A very well thought out and easy song to play once you get it.

BE MINE

Verse

D|-9-11h-11-11-9-11-13-14-14-13-0---|

A|-0--0---0--0-0--0--0--0--0--0-0-9-11h-11-11-9-11-11-11-11--|

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

Verse Interlude

(Start with the A string part of the verse above after this interlude)

e|-5---2-|

B|-7---4-|

G|-7---4-|

D|-7---4-|

A|-5---2-|

E|-5---2-|

Chorus

e|-0---0---0---0---0---0---0---2>4---2-0---|

B|-0---0---0---0---0---0---0---2>4---2-0---|

G|-1---8---4---6---2---3---4---2>4---2-0---|

D|-2---9---6---7---4---4---4---------------|

A|-2---9---6---7---4---4---0---------------|

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

End on E