Try Not To Breathe

Song available on Automatic For The People.

I will try not to breathe.
I can hold my head still with my hands at my knees.
These eyes are the eyes of the old, shiver and fold.

I will try not to breathe.
This decision is mine. I have lived a full life
and these are the eyes that I want you to remember. Oh.

I need something to fly over my grave again.
I need something to breathe.

I will try not to burden you.
I can hold these inside. I will hold my breath
until all these shivers subside,
just look in my eyes.

I will try not to worry you.
I have seen things that you will never see.
Leave it to memory me. I shudder to breathe.

I want you to remember. Oh. (you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
over my grave again. (you will never see)
I need something to breathe. (something to breathe)
Baby, don't shiver now.
Why do you shiver now? (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
over my grave again. (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to breathe. Oh. Oh. Oh.

I will try not to worry you.
I have seen things that you will never see.
Leave it to memory me. Don't dare me to breathe.

I want you to remember. Oh. (you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
over my grave again. (you will never see)
I need something to breathe. (something to breathe)
Baby, don't shiver now.
Why do you shiver now? (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to breathe. (something to breathe - I have seen things
you will never see)
I want you to remember.


When we were making the demo, the microphones were really close to the guitar, so I tried not to breathe into them, and on the tape I say, 'Try not to breathe'. Michael said, 'That's a good title', and like an exercise he tried to think about why someone would try not to breathe. It's about an old man who's imagining himself dead and holding his breath to try to imagine what it's like to be gone.
Peter Buck 1992

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.

Here you can share your own comments, notes or annotations for Try Not To Breathe:
What's your name?
What's your email?



No one has said anything about this song? It's breathtaking and heartbreaking. Also about euthanasia.

It's also another song to go on my final mix tape that I would like to make before my death.

Just beautiful.


By PBS Only one comment on this song? It's so beautiful that I really can't help but shiver ever time I listen to it. It will always be one of my favorites.


By Birdy I'm surprised there are so few comments here! I think that this one, along with 'Find The River' has to be the best song on the album. I absolutly love it.


By Morgaine