Sweetness Follows

Song available on Automatic For The People.

Readying to bury your father and your mother,
what did you think when you lost another?
I used to wonder why did you bother,
distanced from one, blind to the other?

Listen here my sister and my brother
what would you care if you lost the other?
I always wonder why did we bother,
distanced from one, deaf to the other.

Oh, oh, but sweetness follows

It's these little things, they can pull you under.
Live your life filled with joy and wonder.
I always knew this altogether thunder
was lost in our little lives.

Oh, oh, but sweetness follows.
Oh, oh, but sweetness follows.

It's these little things, they can pull you under.
Live your life filled with joy and thunder.
Yeah, yeah we were altogether
lost in our little lives.

Oh. Oh. Ah.

Oh, oh, but sweetness follows.
Oh, oh, but sweetness follows.

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.

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I can't believe no one's said anything about this song. It's gorgeous and sad and hopeful. Have you ever woken up to it? The echoes and the opening vocal--it's cool.


By SoftRain I agree. Great song.


By Tim I was looking forthe authors thoughts on his lyrics. It speaks to me of my family and quite a few that I see represented in our society. Brothers and Sisters living the American "dream" ( nightmere) only to fool themselves to awake to the reality of death of Mom and Dad, then sweetness to the syblings sets in, They have been distant from the one parent, blind to the other, deaf to their syblings, and they awake to find a hollow life that cant be repaired. It was such a little thing at one time, to pick up a phone, drop a line, or , now, a e-letter, but now, it is the little things that can pull us under. - could this be what the author to the lyrics had in mind? - I'm not sure, but it speak such to me.


By a brother I agree with you Softrain. This is definitely one of their most beautiful songs. The guitar is so loud and clear. I love the guitar sounds in this song. And the lyrics are not half bad either; lol.

By: REMFAN


By REMFAN My five favorites from this album are Drive, Try not to Breathe, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Nightswimming and Sweetness Follows. The abrasive cello at the beginning and the sweeping vocals... it's beautiful. Someone said above that it's sad and hopeful. It's true, full of melancholy yet it still retains a message of hope.


By PBS