R.E.M. — First We Take Manhattan
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They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'm guided by a signal in the heavens
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station
I told you, I told you, I told you I was one of those
You loved me as a loser but now you're worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this: to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I don't like your fashion business, mister
I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to your sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station
I told you, I told you, I told you I was one of those
And I thank you for those items that you sent me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practised every night and now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
Remember me, I used to live for music
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
It's Father's Day and everybody's wounded
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'm guided by a signal in the heavens
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station
I told you, I told you, I told you I was one of those
You loved me as a loser but now you're worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this: to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I don't like your fashion business, mister
I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to your sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station
I told you, I told you, I told you I was one of those
And I thank you for those items that you sent me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practised every night and now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
Remember me, I used to live for music
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
It's Father's Day and everybody's wounded
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
Comments (8)add comment
The guys are little off on this one no doubt.
I\'m glad to hear Mills on vocals though. He really has a great voice.
Yikes - Jennifer Warnes version is much better; it has the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn on guitar, which provides it with an atmospheric quality totally lost on Stipe & co.
Leonard\'s lyrics are of course a work of sheer genius. I actually bought this collection in cassette years ago, just to see the various interpretations of the poet\'s works. This one struck me as being an odd combination, but, REM definitely had their priorities straight in helping Cohen become known to a wider audience, which today, of course, he is.
What were YOU thinking about when you heard this song after Sept 11th?
Don\'t get too deep into this or anything. It\'s just that initial reaction to a song in light of current events. Eerie, sometimes. Comical, other times. It was eerie this time.