ACCELERATE: MR. RICHARDS

   As Michael has said, this is not a song specifically about anyone in the government but you could plug in anyone from the Bush Administration and it works fine. I add to that the current administration and for that matter Reagan and Nixon, cabinets full of people who put the dollar above all else. The government can't be strictly run like a business and it can't be a social officer, but there's a middle ground there somewhere. It's eerie how much clearer this song becomes when thinking about the current winner of our national popularity contest. One of those deeper tracks on R.E.M. albums that rewards you for being a fan, love the 'Tell me how was prison' line. Also, is this the first R.E.M. song title with a period? Did it take this long?



MR. RICHARDS

Mr. Richards, your position is a messenger pigeon
Left behind you when the camp moved on

You thought that you had listened but the words had never crystallized
Into a truth that you might own, hey hey

Mr. Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention

Mr. Richards, you're forgiven for a narrow lack of vision
But the fires are still raging on
The public's got opinions and these consequences border on
The compound that you razed where zealots sang, hey hey

Mr. Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention

So listen, your intention
Sign the paper, stamp the ribbon
You're mistaken if you think we'll just forget

You can thump your chest and rattle
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes, we know what's going on
We're the children of the choir, hey
And we know what's going on

Mr. Richards, your conviction
Had us cheering in the kitchen
Now the jury's eating pigeon pie

So tell me how is prison?
Have they taught you how to listen?
We've begun to bridge the schism
Pay attention, pay attention

Mr. Richards, your decision
Pay attention, pay attention

You can thump your chest and rattle
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on
Yes, we know what's going on
We're the children of the choir, hey
From the compound fire, hey
And we know what's going on
Yes, we know what's going on

   The best part of this song is how Peter gets back to that E power chord he leaned on early in their career. The slides to other chords are so smooth you almost can't tell they are there. This is a solid rocker that is fun and easy to play, it definitely became a staple of their tour. Listen along when playing through the first time and you'll find some of the different rhythms and timings Peter is using. Definitely a nonchalant type of feel.


MR. RICHARDS

Intro

e|-0--|

B|-0--|

G|-9--|

D|-9--|

A|-7--|

E|-0--|

Verse          

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

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

G|-9--11-9---9---9>11>13--|

D|-9--11-9---9---9>11>13--|

A|-7---9-7---7---7>-9>11--|

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

Bridge

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

B|-5---7---0---5---0--0--0--|

G|-6---8---9---6---9>11>13--|

D|-7---9---7---7---9>11>13--|

A|-0---0---0---0---7>-9>11--|

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

Bridge 2 (So listen your intention … )

e|10---0--0--0--|

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

G|-9---9>11>13--|

D|-7---9>11>13--|

A|-0---7>-9>11--|

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

Chorus                 

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

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

G|-7---6--|--0--11---9----------|

D|-7---7--|-12--11---9----------|

A|-5---7--|-10---9---7----------|

E|-0---5--|--0---0---0---repeat-|

Chorus Notes           

e|-----------------|

B|-------------10--|

G|-12-11-9---12--9-|

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

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

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