the sun reflected in the back of my eye
I knocked my head against the sky

the dragonflies are busy buzzing me
seahorses if we were in the sea

halfway from coal, halfway to diamond.
my fall knocked a mean chip out of me.

I'm gathering as far as I can reach
we're perched up on the precipice
and this is what I've seen

this is all I want it's all I need
this is all I am it's everything
this is all I want it's all I need.

a bluejay hectors from the felled catalpa tree
doctorate in science and a theologian's
dream

the dragonflies are trying to lecture me
seahorses if we were in the sea

this is all I want it's all I need
this is all I am it's everything
this is all I want it's all I need.

beat a drum for me, like a butterfly wing
tropical storm across the ocean

but don't explain, I'm sure I'll want to know.
but don't forget, we're just halfway from coal

this is all I want it's all I need
this is all I am it's everything
this is all I want it's all I need.

Quotes collected from 'R.E.M. - In Their Own Words' by Peter Hogan

Lyrics are based on fans interpretations and are not official.

All R.E.M. originals written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

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By Mark van der Hoeven This song is the most beautiful song in the world!

By Hadas Zilkha BRILLIANT STUFF AGAIN I DONT KNOW HOW REM CAN KEEP BEING SO BRILLIANT ABSOLUTE LEGENDS ALL OF YOU ESPECIALLY JMS

By KriS I'm curious why Mark thinks this is a masterpiece. I think it carries a positive message, but it isn't one of their best. It's just a bit of a whimsical sing-song involving pretty pictures of dragonflies and seahorses.

By Tim I've been seeing a lot of spiritual and esoteric meaning in rem's songs, and I have come to the conclusion that they are into astrology and conscious evolution, maybe that's why I have always liked them so much. I think Michael is involved, specially.
Halfway from coal halfway to diamond.
Describes the purpose of all of us being here sharing this learning field called earth, occupying a body.
My fall knocked a mean chip out of me. Working with the ego, and how setbacks brings us closer to being our true Selves.

By mugui