Sunday, May 11, 2008

It's The End of the World As We Know it (and I Feel Fine)

by R.E.M.

That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, and aeroplanes -
Lenny Bruce is not afraid.
Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn -
world serves its own needs, regardless of your own needs.
Speed it up a notch: speak, grunt. No strength.
The ladder starts a clatter into fear.
Five down. Hike!
Wire in a fire, represent the seven games and a government-for-hire in a combat site.
Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry with the furies breathing down your neck.
Team by team reporters baffled, trumped, tethered, cropped.
Look at that low plane!
Fine. Then.
Uh oh, overflowing population, common group. It'll do.
Set yourself, suit yourself.
World serves its own needs, listen to your heart beat.
Tell me with the rapture and the reverent in the right - right.
You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright.
I'm feeling pretty psyched.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it
and I feel fine.

Six o'clock - TV hour. Don't get caught in foreign tower.
Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn.
Lock him in uniform and book burning, blood-letting.
Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate.
Light a candle, light a votive.
Step down, step down.
Watch his heel crush, crush.
Uh oh, this means no beer - Cavalier.
Renegade and steer clear!
A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies.
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it
and I feel fine.

The other night I tripped a nice continental drift divide.
Mount St. Edelite.

Leonard Bernstein.

Leonid Breshnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs.
Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom!
You symbiotic, patriotic, slam, but neck, right?
Right.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it
and I feel fine
...fine...

(It's time I had some time alone)

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