GREEN: I REMEMBER CALIFORNIA

So I'll be honest, I really like this song, but I skip it.  It's similar to the Wrong Child for me in that it is a little bit of a downer.  It's actually a nicely crafted post apocalyptic tune, complete with sparse lyrics and guitar ... in fact, it's Mike and Bill who do most of the work here.  However, the lyrics are extremely specific and non repetitive in a nicely poetic way ... something this album doesn't offer until the last few songs.  We're starting to see a rift in the way Stipe works, as if he were two lyricists, one who finds a nice turn of phrase and repeats it, and one who prefers to create stream of consciousness poetry.




I REMEMBER CALIFORNIA

I remember redwood trees
Bumper cars and wolverines
The ocean’s trident submarines
Lemons, limes, and tangerines
I remember this
I remember traffic jams
Motor boys and girls with tans
Nearly was and almost rans
I remember this

History is made
History is made to seem unfair

I recall that you were there
Golden smile and shining hair
I recall it wasn’t fair
Recollect it wasn’t fair
Remembering it wasn’t fair outside

Low ebb, high tide
The lowest ebb and highest tide
A symbol wave I must confide
I guess we took us for a ride
I guess it’s just a gesture

I remember this defense
Progress fails pacific sense
All those sweet conspiracies
I remember all these things
I remember traffic jams
Motor boys and girls with tans
Nearly was and almost rans
I remember this, this

Low ebb, high tide
The lowest ebb and highest tide
I guess we took us for a ride
I guess it’s just a gesture

At the end of the continent
At the edge of the continent
At the edge of the continent
At the edge of the continent


Okay, not the most difficult song in the Buck catalogue, but still fun.  The clincher is the very muted chords during the verse.

I REMEMBER CALIFORNIA

Intro/ Chorus

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

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

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

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

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

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

Verse:

The parenthetical are muted, the notes played occasionally. Listen to the song to hear exactly where.

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

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

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

D|-(2)---(2)-----|

A|-(2)---(3)-----|

E|-(0)---(0)-----|

Middle Bridge/ End:

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

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

G|-2>4--4>9--9--9--9--0-|

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

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

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