In a series of posts on Bluesky last night, R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe ended decades of speculation by revealing the lyrics to 'It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)'. Over to you, Mike:
Ok its ‘feed it off an aux, speak, grunt no strength, the ladder start to clatter with fear fight down height, wire in a fire representing seven games, a government for hire and a combat site’.
— Michael Stipe (@michaelstipe.bsky.social) September 5, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The entire thread is a hoot, including this reveal about 'Chronic Town', 'Murmur', and 'Reckoning':
Any other lyrics— don’t even try chronic town murmur or reckoning btw— just form vowels and syllables, and mean it
— Michael Stipe (@michaelstipe.bsky.social) September 3, 2025 at 9:55 AM
It's the end of the mystery as we know it. And I feel fine.
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Love it. We grew up in an era where we earnestly misquoted lyrics of songs all the time. Never more true than for the audio hieroglyphics that Stipe issued in the early days.
ReplyDeleteHit Poughkepsie crispy chicken verbs throw up a stone richie
ReplyDeleteChop the O, sprinkle a lil' snow inside a Optimo
Swing the John McEnroe, rap rock'n'roll
Tidy Bowl, gung-ho pro, Starsky with the gumsole
Hit the rump slow, parole kids, live Rapunzel
But Ton' stizzy really high, the vivid laser eye guide
Jump in the Harley ride, Clarks I freak a lemon pie
I'm bout it, bout it, Lord forgive me, Ms. Sally shouted
Tracey got shot in the face, my house was overcrowded
Rootsy, appreciate you humoring my skeets
ReplyDeleteZ, there must be some auto rhymes for the tune, given your wheelhouse. Carburetor float inflator, spark plug beer chug, torque ... fork .. It's the end of the world as we know it ...
ReplyDeletetook my dog for a walk in town today. bunch of women were gathered wearing brightly colored muumuus. turns out they're doing a bar crawl in honor of mrs. roper from three's company. a roper romp, if you will. and they will.
ReplyDeletegonna be the oldest, least hip dude at Nats Park tonight to see Vance Joy and The Lumineers
ReplyDeleteWould love to see the Lumineers
ReplyDeleteMrs. Roper… if memory serves, her name was Audra Lindley. I remember it because I knew a couple of sorority sisters named Audra and Lindley. What a character.
ReplyDeleteno way this guy's name is actually Vance Joy gtfo
ReplyDeleteWhit, they have been tremendous. As was Vance Joy. This is one of my most enjoyable concerts of the past few years.
ReplyDelete