I never thought of this as funny It speaks another world to me I wanna be your Easter bunny I wanna be your Christmas tree.
I'll strip the world that you must live in of all its godforsaken greed. I'll ply the tar out of your feathers. I'll pluck the thorns out of your feet. You and me. You and me. You and me.
And if I choose your sanctuary. I'll want to wash you with my hair. I'll want to drink of sacred fountains and find the riches hidden there. I'll eat the lotus and peyote. I'll want to hear the caged-bird sing. I'll want the secrets of the temple. I'll want the finger with the ring. You and me. You and me. You and me.
That if you make me your religion. I'll give you all the room you need. I'll be the drawing of your breath. I'll be the cup if you should bleed. I'll be the sky above the Ganges I'll be the vast and stormy sea. I'll be the lights that guide you inland. I'll be the visions you will see. Visions you will see. You will see. You will see. You and me. You and me. You and me.
Desire is stupid. Michael Stipe 1996
We could have made it like Whitney Houston, a power ballad. Scott Litt said, 'You know, if we produce this the right way, it'll be just like 'I Will Always Love You', and it will be No.1 for 16 weeks.' And we said, 'Yeah... so let's not produce it the right way.' Peter Buck 1996
Michael could have taken three lines out of that song and it would be a huge hit. Peter Buck 1996
What is a love song if it doesn't have a little bit of creepiness and weirdness in it? Everything does. An I pulling a trick on the world? No. I'm showing something that's a little bit more full-spectrum, which is that even the most intense love probably has some weird little angle to it that you might either gloss or ignore or forget about or not prioritise. And you could say the same thing about hate, and you could say the same thing about desire, and you could say the same thing about obsession. Michael Stipe 1996
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 Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.
Wow. Great tune, great lyrics, a love song gem. Should have been number one for 16 weeks anyway.
By Doug
the onlyproblem with this beautiful song is that we all begin to hope to meet someone with the same ability to love...or to express love, which is as important as loving, unfortunately...a real great song, but then are we going to be satisfied with our problematic, everyday love affairs?
By antonellawhat a pretty song, it's one of those that make you cry - just like YOU ARE THE EVERYTHING and I'VE BEEN HIGH. It's just great.
By Rhiannon
This has to be one of R.E.M.'s most beautiful songs simply because it involves sacrifice on such a grand scale. And that's touching.
By Tim
I feel sometimes when I listen to certain REM tunes (this one included) that Michael says either what people are thinking, but are just too afraid to admit and accept, or that he says what others are merely too shallow to comprehend.
By Shane
Just Love it. It's something closer to what I can relate. I'm a cap like Mike. Saw them last before I moved from Calif. Monster concert. Thanks for this great site
By Barbara
cant begin to describe how this song makes me feel,something about the seemingly endless guitar riff at the end sends shivers down my sine and conjures up the feeling of everlasting love.One of my top 5 fav REM song.Sadly never performed live I believe.
