AROUND THE SUN: BOY IN THE WELL

   I was REALLY into this song for a while because when it came out I was going through some stuff and, listen, this song is for people who are down and out and need some inspiration. For me I was in that same place of getting ready to leave a situation--and somewhere I had lived for a long time--to start a new life--this is a great album for when you experience change. It has the R.E.M. trademark of starting moody and slow then kicking in for a big finish, very anthemic. Michael has said his favorite part of this song is the idea of a Tennessee goth, but there are some other great moments in this song. I love how 'that sinking feeling' kicks in, and for some reason where 'it's beautiful' falls in the chorus gets me good. I'm also partial to the 'woos' at the end as the organ comes to life. Less successful I think is the melodica-sounding solo in the middle 8. Also, a general observation: here is another song that starts rhyming and then goes off, and I find it a little more successful than 'Wanderlust,' mostly because the song is better overall. The band really brought this one live and I think it could've been a good single after 'Leaving NY.'




BOY IN THE WELL

Look at this it's me, walking away
Look at you drowning, on display
Every time I've dropped by I've tried to say
The water is rising you don't want to stay

It's that sinking feeling, you know what it's bringing on
You might as well say it
I see it, I feel it, this town is going wrong
It's turning away

You wanted me to be someone that I could never be
My new friends are offering things I’ve never dreamed

It’s beautiful

I’d like for them to take me

On

The track mall gang went off on the Tennessee goth

A lunar moth you chrysalis and flail
The water is rising, you try to rappel
A rousing cheer for the boy in the well

It's that sinking feeling, you know what it's bringing on
You might as well say it
I see it, I feel it, this town is going wrong
It's turning away

You wanted me to be someone that I could never be
My new friends are offering things I’ve never dreamed

It’s beautiful

I’d like for them to take me

On

Here is where I look back
Here is where you fell
This is where I got up
Shaking off my tail
This is where your rope trick started to look stale
A greyhound pass for the boy in the well

It's that sinking feeling, you know what it's bringing on
I might as well say it
I see it, I feel it, this town is going wrong
It's turning away

You wanted me to be someone that I could never be
My new friends are offering things I’ve never dreamed

It’s beautiful

I’d like for them to take me

On

You wanted me to be something that I could never be
My new friends are offering things I’ve never dreamed

It’s beautiful

I’d like for them to take me

On


   Not a hard song to play, but very inventive with the open strings. It looks like Peter is going up to the 5th-7th frets for the Em on 'It's that sinking feeling' but the chord is basically the same, so I've kept it the same progression below and the home Em is really the fuller sound. I've also transposed the melodica solo below. 

BOY IN THE WELL

Intro (x4)

e|-0-0--|

B|-0-0--|

G|-0-0--|

D|-2>4--|

A|-2>4--|

E|-0-0--|

Verse (Em-Bm/F#m-D-C; Em-Bm/F#m-D-C-Am)          

e|-0---0---5---3---|-0---0---5---3--0--|

B|-0---0---3---1---|-0---0---3---1--1--|

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

D|-2---4---4---2---|-2---4---4---2--2--|

A|-2---4---5---3---|-2---4---5---3--0--|

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

Chorus                 

e|-3---1---3-------1---0--|

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

G|-4---2---0-------3---2--|

D|-5---3---2-------3---2--|

A|-5---3---3-------1---0--|

E|-3---1---0---x3--1---0--|

Middle 8

e|-5---3-------1---0--|

B|-7---5-------3---1--|

G|-7---5-------3---2--|

D|-7---5-------3---2--|

A|-5---3-------1---0--|

E|-5---3---x3--1---0--|

Middle 8 Lead (Melodica)

e|------------------------------7--------------------------7-10--|

B|-7-8-10-7-8-7-5-5-7---7-8-10-7-10-8-7-8-7---7-8-10-7-8-10------|

G|--------------7------------------------------------------------|

D|---------------------------------------------------------------|

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

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

End on Em