REVEAL: THE LIFTING

   If the ethereal opening to this track doesn't set you up for the album nothing does. Remember when the group was considered a jangly rock band? I dare you to find any consistent guitar in this song. There's the occasional punch in, some e-bow, and a lead. The song itself is a companion to 'Daysleeper' as Michael has said it's the same character, but the only link between the songs is the naming of the time in the first line. Maybe that's enough. He says the character is at a seminar trying to be led to think beyond the tangible, but she's having a hard time wrapping her mind around the marriage of business and dreams so her involvement is a failure. However, the final lines point to someone who can tap into the intangible. To me the final lines are the real payoff of this song, almost as if we the listener are experiencing the song version of her seminar. Again, if you want the old R.E.M. this song is saying good luck, sucker. If you want to experience new aesthetic territory with the band, this opener is a great start.




A cool live version, guitar and all!




THE LIFTING

(Grounded)

Grounded

5 a.m.
The night lite is comforting
But gravity is holding you

Once settled into sleep
You have watched

On repeat the story of your life
Across the ceiling
And in review

You've said the air was singing and
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen

‘Good morning, and how are you? The weather's fine, the sky is blue, it's perfect for our seminar’

‘Now close your eyes and start to breathe, allow the noise to recede allow yourself to drift and fly away’
But you just stay

You've said the air was singing and
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen

Never dreamed

Did you hear these voices calling?
Did you hear these voices calling?
Did you hear these voices calling you?

Locked into a conference room,
‘We're only what our minds assume’
And rationale is leaving you

(Grounded)

This conceit, these systems of belief
Your counselor agrees
‘you've always marked these boundaries, now you're free’
And with relief

You've said the air was singing and
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen

Never heard

Never dreamed

You've said the air was singing and
It's calling you, you don't believe
These things you've never seen

Never, never, never, never, never

Never, never, never, never, never

Never, never, never, never, never

Never, never, never, never

Now once you had a dream of oceans

And sunken cities
Memories of things you've never known
And you have never known

   I posted the live version above to show the song with guitar all the way through. Below are just chords and the lead, but he's doodling with the e-bow at times for a harsh edge to the sound. Live, he plays the intro by hitting the low E-String notes on the 3rd and 10th frets, it's also kind of fun to begin the song with a traditional G chord and slide that same form up to the D at the 10th ... I like it anyway.


THE LIFTING

Intro/Verse

G-Dm

Chorus

Am-C (x3)

Em

Middle Bridge

C-Dm-G-Am (x3)

Em

Lead

e|-------------------------------------10-7-8-5-3-1-3--|

B|-----------------------------------------------------|

G|----4-5-7---9-7-5-4-5-4---------4-5-7----------------|

D|-5-7-------------------7-5-3-5-7---------------------|

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

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