UP: FALLS TO CLIMB

   The end of another album! Only three studio albums left, plus some b-sides and singles! Michael calls this song his 'rewriting of The Lottery.' An ordinary person wanting to fight the system, but its a seriously ingrained system! For me the organ on this is too reminiscent of the 'pomp and circumstance' sound to really reach me. That said--as with Parakeet--we are heading solidly toward the REVEAL sound here, so is this a brave new sound, or the beginning of an ill advised detour. I lean on the side of brave, particularly for a band who are constantly reinventing themselves, this next step is bugfuck nuts. Incidentally, the pounce pony (a sacrificial animal) and phony maroney lines are an obscure (and not direct) lyrical nod to Patti Smith's song 'Land' from the HORSES album, the lead character of which is named Johnny which (as is well documented) had an effect on the 15 year old John Michael Stipe.



FALLS TO CLIMB

I'll take the position assume the missionary part
You work by committee, you had me pegged from the start
I'll be pounce pony, phony maroney, pony before the cart
I'll be pounce pony this ceremony only fills my heart

Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

A punch toy volunteer a weakling on its knee
Is all you want to hear and all you want to see
Romantically, you'd martyr me and miss this story's point
It is my strength, my destiny this is the role that I have chosen

Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

Why not me?

Gentlemen mark your opponents, fire into your own ranks
Pick the weakest as strategic move square off to meet your enemy
For each and every gathering a scapegoat falls to climb
As I step forward, silently, deliberately mine

Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

Why not me?
Had consequence chose differently, had fate its ugly head
My actions make me beautiful and dignify the flesh

Me

I am free

I am free

   There is little guitar on this track except for someone pounding out an acoustic to the second chorus. The A11/E chord below is simply my shorthand for an open chord in standard tuning, its really the only sound that fits with the song, sort of a long transition chord to the G and D from Em. Because the song if fairly straightforward, I didn't bother to tab the chords, however the Chorus sounds best when barred.

FALLS TO CLIMB

Verse

G-D-C-Em-A11/E

Chorus

D-G-C (x3)

Am-G

Middle Bridge

F-Am-C-G

Am-Am-F-G

Ending

Repeat Am-G