MAN ON THE MOON: THE GREAT BEYOND

   Something wacky happened between UP and REVEAL and that was the Man on the Moon soundtrack. Way back on DEAD LETTER OFFICE, Peter joked (or maybe not) that the band would do soundtracks. Well, someone finally called. It is significant that the producers of this bio-pic called the movie Man on the Moon isn't it? How often does a song so ingratiate itself into the zeitgeist as to be shorthand for how someone lived? I'm listening to the soundtrack now and I think this will be the only song I tab off of it as the only other tune is a cover of This Friendly World and most everything else is piano based (Miracle is classic R.E.M. instrumental) ... maybe I'll snag that stuff later. Michael often presented this as Mike's song to be a companion piece to Man on the Moon and to that nod, he added a couple of Man on the Moon lyrics to the background vocal at the end. The song was a modest hit, particularly in the UK--signaling the band's greater reach internationally than here in the States. The song is pretty straightforward and has some inventiveness, but the slick production almost feels like pandering to a wider cinematic audience. The song does still end up on hits collections, and nominated for a Grammy though so I guess it is liked. I don't dislike the song and hey, I'll sing along, but it's certainly not the first track I would reach for if it was the last I'd ever hear.



THE GREAT BEYOND

I’ve watched the stars fall silent from your eyes
Oh, the sights that I have seen
I can’t believe that I believed I wish that you could see
There’s a new planet in the solar system
There is nothing up my sleeve

I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs
I’m tossing up punchlines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

In all this talk of time
Talk is fine
But I don’t want to stay around
Why can’t we pantomime just close our eyes
And sleep sweet dreams
Me and you with wings on our feet

I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs
I’m tossing up punchlines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom
I’m looking for answers from the great beyond

I want the hummingbirds, the dancing bear
Sweetest dreams of you
I look into the stars
I look into the moon

I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs
I’m tossing up punchlines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom
I’m looking for answers from the great beyond

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom
I’m looking for answers from the great

Answers from the great

Answers

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom
I’m looking for answers from the great beyond

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons

(Here’s a little agit for the never believer)
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom

(Here’s a little ghost for the offering)
I’m looking for answers from the great

Answers from the great

Answers

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons

(Here’s a little agit for the never believer)
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom

(Here’s a little ghost for the offering)
I’m looking for answers from the great beyond

   On the album, this song is tuned strangely--down just a bit to match the orchestra tuning. However, live the band played it standard and so it shall be tabbed that way! I've added the little doodle in the verse Peter used to do live, because it's a nice touch. It also looks like Peter might be throwing his middle finger up to the A note on the E string for a deeper A, but played open, the regular A string will suffice.

THE GREAT BEYOND

Verse

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bridge to Chorus

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

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

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

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

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

E|-0---0---0---x3---3-|

Chorus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End on:

e|-0---|

B|-0---|

G|-4---|

D|-5---|

A|-0---|

E|-0---|