LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA: ON THE FLY

  Another song that didn't fit ACCELERATE, but maybe might've weaseled into a longer version. I hope there's a studio version out there somewhere that stretches out the thought, but this is the era of short song R.E.M.. It's like the group picked up some Ramones and Weezer albums. There are shades of Galveston and Country Feedback around the edges and it's the type of track that reminds me R.E.M. is a southern band. Bill would be happy that this track sits on the border of old school country music. According to the recording, this song was one of the first they wrote for the album. Love the stripped down version in the video below.



ON THE FLY

You said that loving me was falling off a log
You always had a way with words
I'm in a barrel over Niagara Falls
I wonder if I am the first
Now if I asked of you for just one wish
Would you turn on me and take the fifth?
You're off again at some epic celebration
Shooting barrels full of fish
You found another hole to waltz into
You found another car to crash
I figured out that humor serves me up
Another this too shall pass

It's easy to laugh off, easy to brush aside
We're living our lives, we're here on the fly
It's easy to laugh off, easy to brush aside

We're living our lives, we're here on the fly
And I just happened by

I stood there naked by the trains again
Frozen stock still in the yard
A Heron waiting for a fish to jump
I never let down my guard
I've been exclusive when it comes to you
I don't receive at all
I wish I felt the same when you call me late
I almost wish you wouldn't call
God knows what I'm looking for
And god knows what I am
Cause even Jesus had his reservations
I won't be doubting you again
I won't be doubting you again

It's easy to laugh off, easy to brush aside
We're living our lives, we're here on the fly
It's easy to laugh off, easy to brush aside
We're living our lives, we're here on the fly
And I just happened by

I'm living my life, I'm here on the fly
And I just happened by
I just happened by

   I kept this one very simple. The key here is the Cmaj7 and that pinky on the 2nd fret for the Em. There's some loose slide going on that can be figured out pretty quickly upon listening which follows the chords. The intro has the second guitar picking the high strings on the 12th fret. Maybe this one's on the lazy side.

ON THE FLY

Verse

e|------2---0-------1---0-|

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

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

D|-0-2--2---2-------3---2-|

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

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

Chorus

e|--1---0-------2---0--|

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

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

D|--3---2-------0---2--|

A|--3---3-----------3--|

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

LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA: STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF THE MIDDLE DISTANCE

  Love this as a live song and I'm just as glad it never made an album. However, it might have suffered from lack of time to grow in a studio setting. It feels as if the song is of the rougher ilk of NAIHF, likely because there are only live versions available which makes me wonder if there are studio versions of these next two songs out there somewhere. Only Jacknife Lee knows I suppose. Michael says this phrase basically means hoping you live long enough to be able to look back on your youth. Sort of a mix of staring down the barrel of a gun and having your life flash before your eyes an the long stare into the middle distance, contemplation.




STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF THE MIDDLE DISTANCE

Now hope for the future took a pounding in the parking lot
And the answer live for today is all I’ve got
When your name is called the lights might dim
And time is the essence squeeze me in

I'm blinking at the vanishing point of what I thought

Staring down the barrel of the middle distance
God knows I've tried
I close my eyes
I close my eyes
I close my eyes

I breathe despair do we stand a prayer
Is the call for the future I don't care
Can I turn you around to face me here, unh hunh
There's a compass phrase with familiar tone
A voice that needles me to the bone

Staring down the barrel of the middle distance
God knows I've tried
I close my eyes
I close my eyes

I close my eyes

This position shift has its benefits
If you can't hit play cause the button sticks yeah
Ignorance is bliss, well I can't say
There's a compass phrase a familiar tone
A voice that needles you to the bone
You're left with chaos, static, and delay

Staring down the barrel of the middle distance
Staring down the barrel of the middle distance
God knows I've tried
I close my eyes
I close my eyes
I close my eyes

Staring down the barrel of the middle distance
God knows I've tried
I close my eyes

  This one is a lot easier than I thought and it took a little of the mystique out of the song.  There are a couple of things not mentioned below. The later bridge hangs on the A-G for a little longer, there are some things Scott is doing in the background not noted, but if you want to throw the bend in before the last verse it's the b string on the 11th fret. Peter also does his standard open e and b string pick at times in the verse, listen and play along to find.

STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF THE MIDDLE DISTANCE

Intro/Verse

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

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

G|---9-9-7---7>9--|

D|---9-9-7---7>9--|

A|---7-7-5---5>7--|

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

Verse Fill (Guitar 2)

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

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

G|--------------------------|

D|------------5-7-7>9-7-5-0-|

A|--7-7-5--7-7--------------|

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

Bridge to Chorus

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

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

G|-6---4--------6--|

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

A|-7---5--------7--|

E|-5---3---x3---5--|

Chorus

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

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

G|-7---9--------4---6-|

D|-7---9--------5---7-|

A|-5---7--------5---7-|

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

Chorus (Guitar 2)

e|-2---0--------7----9---|

B|-3---0---------6----8--|

G|-2---1-------7--7>9----|

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

A|-----2-----------------|

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

ACCELERATE: I'M GONNA DJ

  This is the last official song for me to post, the last album track anyway. There's a sense of accomplishment, but as I look back through the work I've done there's a lot to clean up. I've already started with 'Wolves, Lower' and you can tell a marked difference between that post and 'Gardening at Night' for the time being. Next up, I'll tackle the last two sets of new tracks that came out on OLYMPIA and PART LTHG respectively. Then move on to revisit CIN as I threw those tracks out right as the album was released, then pick up Non Album Tracks starting from their earliest live recordings. I've already done 'Narrator' but I think maybe stuff like 'Body Count' will land here through tracks like 'Photograph'.
  This song sums up this album for me, it rocks hard, is a little slight, and is over before I'm good and ready. The RUTalkin' podcast gave this one short shrift, but I love it because it reminds me of the last time I saw them live. They did this track and 'Permanent Vacation' which thrilled the HELL out of me. It's also a nice feel for the end of this thematic album, a world overcrowded and stifling but with a sense that there's always one last celebration--sort of like '1999.' Plus, in coming to the end of this lyrical journey the song perfectly captures Michael at his most impish. A pop star that knows two things: Pop music is ephemeral and that he has imbued his lyrics with more meaning than they'll ever need. I'm convinced this band from the beginning this was supposed to be Velvet Underground redux and along the way they started enjoying being popular.





I'M GONNA DJ
Death is pretty final

I'm collecting vinyl
I'm gonna DJ at the end of the world

‘Cause if heaven does exist
With a kicking play list
I don't wanna miss it at the end of the world

Hey steady steady
Hey steady steady
I don't wanna go until I'm good and ready

It’s on my mind
It’s in my mind
It’s what I found
It’s what I find

It’s on my mind
It’s in my mind
It’s what I found
Oh my my my

But ‘I'll spin my way right through it’
Claims enthusiast Jack Pruitt
As the moths circle the moon
As you’re circling the room

The music could provide the light you cannot resist
You cannot resist
You cannot resist

And the weblogs that get tangled
As you willie and you wangle
In your walk-up in Seattle
Where you fought the nascent battle
You threw the tread and throttle
Let us raise another bottle
Raise another bottle
Raise another bottle

Because death is pretty final

(Final)
I'm collecting vinyl

(Vinyl)
I'm gonna DJ at the end of the world

Hey steady steady
Hey steady steady
I don't wanna go until I'm good and ready

It’s on my mind
It’s in my mind
It’s what I found
It’s what I find

It’s on my mind
It’s in my mind
It’s what I found
Oh my my my

Hey steady steady

(It’s on my mind)
Hey steady steady

(It’s in my mind)
I don't wanna go until I'm good and ready

(It’s what I found)

Hey steady steady

(It’s on my mind)
Hey steady steady

(It’s in my mind)
I don't wanna go until I'm good and ready

(It’s what I found)

The music will provide the light you cannot resist
You cannot resist

(I’m gonna DJ)
You cannot resist

(I’m gonna DJ)

Yeah


   Great song to end on. Super easy, but with some tricks up its sleeve. The verse becomes the chorus becomes the verse, a middle 8, sometimes nothing, some negative strings on the live version, so Buckish it's perfect. I've added some stuff below, like the Intro guitar chord, the Mike Mills Bass walk on the middle 8 (Peter and Scott hang on G). The x's in the verse mean don't play anything! During the verse, Mike plays an A note and if you HAVE to play something that isn't negative chords I suggest the first chord of 'Welcome to the Occupation.' The one finger on the second fret D string. 

I'M GONNA DJ

Intro (Guitar 1)

e|-1--|

B|-0--|

G|-0--|

D|-2--|

A|-0--|

E|-0--|

Intro (Guitar 2)

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

B|-0-4-0-0-6-0-0-8-0-0-10-0-0-12-0-0-13b!-----------|

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

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

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

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

Verse

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

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

G|-6-x---0--------5---7-|

D|-7-x---0--------5---7-|

A|-7-x---2--------3---5-|

E|-5-x---3---x2---0---0-|

2^nd Verse Fill

e|-0--|

B|-3b-|

G|-0--|

D|----|

A|----|

E|----|

Chorus

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

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

G|-7>9-----7>9-----7>9---7-0--|

D|-7>9-----7>9-----7>9---7-7--|

A|-5>7---0-5>7---0-5>7---5-7--|

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

Chorus to Middle 8

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

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

G|-7>9-----7>9-----7>9---7-4---0--------------|

D|-7>9-----7>9-----7>9---7-4---0--------------|

A|-5>7---0-5>7---0-5>7---5-2---2--(8--10--12)-|

E|-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0---3--(6---8--10)-|

Chorus to End

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

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

G|-7>9-----7>9-----7>9---7-4---6------8-|

D|-7>9-----7>9-----7>9---7-4---7------9-|

A|-5>7---0-5>7---0-5>7---5-2---7------9-|

E|-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0---5------7-|

ACCELERATE: HORSE TO WATER

   The next two songs blend together for me as companion pieces. There's something about the way they use the discordant notes as the two guitars work off each other. It's almost as if Peter and Scott are two parts of the same chord at times which makes for a great sound in a live setting. As album pieces, there is a reflection of the MONSTER and NAIHF years as the band attempts to pen arena sized songs. So ends the album of, 'hey, we can still rock' and the end of the band as a trio. On these last two albums the five musicians here are a band and they get really tight. It's a shame they didn't tour after CIN, but this tour has some solid moments on it. The most surprising thing about this song is how many lyrics there are in relation to its length. R.E.M. are definitely letting the songs dictate how long they are, but maybe they could've dreamed up a couple of Middle 8's here at the end of the album? The lyrics are very combative and are possibly the other version of 'Hollow Man' from a different perspective. Also, I've decided to use the live version below because of how Michael reacts to the sound of Scott echoing water. Cracks me up.
Side note, it's SHOCKING how inaccurate the lyrics are for this album on Google searches--especially considering the lyrics are INCLUDED WITH THE ALBUM. Is there just a bot picking out lyrics, or is this the work of a real person?




HORSE TO WATER

I could have kept my head down
I might have kept my mouth shut
I should have held my own
You lead a horse to water and you watch him drown

You're only as big as your battles
Rattle my cage with your shadow
I'm a bantamweight with a mouth full of feathers
Don't you know that what comes around goes around

I'm not that easy
I am not your horse to water

(water)
I hold my breath I come around round round

Don't darken my doorstep again
You're mixing up lemonade gin-gin
You're mixing up lose with win/win
Lead a horse to water and you watch him drown

You’re stumble on glass top table
Divas chewing chalk on cable
Humvee up a beanstalk fable
I don’t call this entertainment ‘cause Humpty's falling down

I'm not that easy
I am not your horse to water

(water)
I hold my breath I come around round round

Pick a fight launch a buzzy bar brawl
Friday night fuck or fight a pub crawl
Bantamweight with a mouth full of feathers
Don't you know that what comes around goes around

I'm not that easy
I am not your horse to water

(water)
I hold my breath I come around round round

It's not that easy
I am not your horse to water

(water)
I hold my breath I come around round round
It’s going down down down
This run around round round
Is bound to pound the daylights out of you

   This song is pretty easy to play. Just a few chords, but note how much Peter leans on the open B and e string below. I've over emphasized it as he keeps the F# intact, but just barely. There's definitely more doodling than what I've put below by Scott, but it's mostly here.

Verse (Guitar 1)

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

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

G|---3-----------------8--|

D|---4-----------------9--|

A|---4-----------------9--|

E|-0-2-----------x3----7--|

Verse (Guitar 2)

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

B|-2^-----2^----4^-----0--|

G|-----2^--------------8--|

D|---------------------9--|

A|---------------------9--|

E|---------------------7--|

Ending

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

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

G|-9---8---6---4---3---2---1--|

D|-9---9---7---5---4---3---2--|

A|-7---9---7---5---4---3---2--|

E|-0---7---5---3---2---1---0--|

Ending (Guitar 2)

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

B|---------5^--2^--------------|

G|-----------------6^--5^--4^--|

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

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

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

ACCELERATE: SING FOR THE SUBMARINE

   It's entirely possible that this is the first song where Michael is really thinking about legacy leading into their final album. Starting with the 'Auctioneer' style sound and following through with the name dropped older tunes including 'Electron Blue,' 'Feeling Gravitys Pull,' 'ITEOTWAWKI.' and 'High Speed Train' and then placing us in the futuristic world of Blade Runner with the mention of Tyrell's Mechanical Owl he's placing those tracks in a recognizable world. The visualization of which is the city Michael designed as the album art and the feeling of the song is of a distinctly different personality in an artist pulled in two directions. Here's the Michael who oversees all of the art direction of the band, and here's the singer, so the submarine becomes the way to compartmentalize, but also a time capsule for the future. A brilliant song really. And some amazing sounds here for the band, Mike's vocalized harmonies are transcendent, Peter's play on Radiohead is smooth as hell, and let's acknowledge Scott and Bill as the backups here--some very cool and thematic things happening. It's sad that the last two songs don't really build on the idea of this song, but it makes me wonder what comes out of these guys if they spend another month writing.





SING FOR THE SUBMARINE

It feels in dreams that everything’s there for you
The city breathes and pulses
It's fuel electron blue

I knew that you could see right through it
So this is where you give in to the machine
Lift up your voice feel gravitys pull
And drown out the sirens ring

Ohhhh

It's all here where I keep it
It's all in the submarine
It's all a lot less frightening
Than we would’ve had it be
And that's the good news, my darling
It is what it's going to be, so

Sing, sing for the submarine

I tried to explain how it all begins
How it’s all destroyed and built again
I knew that you could not believe me
But now you're here and it's different
How the light shines in your eyes
In every second a century
It's then that I realized
The world as we know it, the high speed train
We'll pick it all up and start again

It's all here where I keep it
It's all in the submarine
It's all a lot less frightening
Than we would’ve had it be
And that's the good news, my darling
It is what it's going to be, so

Sing, sing for the submarine

The city did not collapse in a shudder
The rain it never came
At least my confessions made you laugh
I know it's a little crazed
But these dreams they seem so real to me

It's all here where I keep it
It's all in the submarine
It's all a lot less frightening
Than we would’ve had it be
And that's the good news, my darling
It is what it's going to be, so

Sing, sing for the submarine

And so this is where you trust me
That this is where it begins
It's all a lot less frightening
We’re here in the interim
Tyrell and his mechanical owl
A moth disguised as a leaf

Don't tell me what tomorrow brings
We climb into the hidden machine and
Sing sing sing

Sing sing sing
Sing sing for the submarine

   Some marvelous overlays here, but nothing too fancy. Simply otherworldly. I don't have much more to say except it's a cool mix of Auctioneer and Around The Sun style chords (that is to say, there's a Dm). Love the walkdown at the end of the Chorus.

SING FOR THE SUBMARINE

Verse (Guitar 1)

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

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

G|-4-4--4-4-4----|-3-3-----|

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

A|-2----2>3------|-4-------|

E|-----(repeat)--|-2-------|

Verse (Guitar 2)

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

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

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

D|-x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x--|

A|-2---3---5---7---2---3---5---3--|

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

e|---------------------------------|--(repeat)--|

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

G|-4---5---7---9---4---5---7---12--|-11---9>11--|

D|-x---x---x---x---x---x---x----x--|--x---x--x--|

A|-2---3---5---7---2---3---5---10--|--9---7>-9--|

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

Chorus (Am-Dm) Guitar 2

e|------------------------------17-12-----------------------------|

B|-13------------10------------------13-13-15h-13--10-------------|

G|-----------------10-10-12h-10----------------------10-10-12h-10-|

D|---10-10-12h-10-------------------------------------------------|

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

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

e|-12------------------------------|

B|---13------------10--------------|

G|-------------------10-10-12h-10--|

D|-----10-10-12h-10----------------|

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

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

Chorus (C-Em) Guitar 2

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

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

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

D|-10-----10-9-------|

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

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

2^nd Verse Fill

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

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

G|----------------------------------|

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

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

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

Middle 8 Guitar 1

D|-4-4-9-8-8-12-11-11-12-14-7-4-4-9-8-8-12-11-11-12-14-12-|

A|-x-x-x-x-x--x--x--x--x--x-x-x-x-x-x-x--x--x--x--x--x--x-|

E|-2-2-7-6-6-10--9--9-10-12-5-2-2-7-6-6-10--9--9-10-12-10-|

D|-4-4-9-8-8-12-11-11-12-14-7-9---|

A|-x-x-x-x-x--x--x--x--x--x-x-x---|

E|-2-2-7-6-6-10--9--9-10-12-5-7---|

Middle 8 Guitar 2 (End)

e|--------------9---12-14-13-14---|

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

G|-9^-10^-11^---------------------|

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

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

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

End on Am