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The sun reflected in the back of my eye
I knocked my head against the sky
The dragonflies are busy buzzing me
Seahorses if we were in the sea
Halfway from coal, halfway to diamond.
My fall knocked a mean chip out of me.
I'm gathering as far as I can reach
We're perched up on the precipice
And this is what I've seen
This is all I want it's all I need
This is all I am it's everything
This is all I want it's all I need.
A Blue Jay hectors from the felled catalpa tree
Doctorate in science and a theologian's
Dream
The dragonflies are trying to lecture me
Seahorses if we were in the sea
This is all I want it's all I need
This is all I am it's everything
This is all I want it's all I need.
Beat a drum for me, like a butterfly wing
Tropical storm across the ocean
But don't explain, I'm sure I'll want to know.
But don't forget, we're just halfway from coal
This is all I want it's all I need
This is all I am it's everything
This is all I want it's all I need.
I knocked my head against the sky
The dragonflies are busy buzzing me
Seahorses if we were in the sea
Halfway from coal, halfway to diamond.
My fall knocked a mean chip out of me.
I'm gathering as far as I can reach
We're perched up on the precipice
And this is what I've seen
This is all I want it's all I need
This is all I am it's everything
This is all I want it's all I need.
A Blue Jay hectors from the felled catalpa tree
Doctorate in science and a theologian's
Dream
The dragonflies are trying to lecture me
Seahorses if we were in the sea
This is all I want it's all I need
This is all I am it's everything
This is all I want it's all I need.
Beat a drum for me, like a butterfly wing
Tropical storm across the ocean
But don't explain, I'm sure I'll want to know.
But don't forget, we're just halfway from coal
This is all I want it's all I need
This is all I am it's everything
This is all I want it's all I need.
Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst
Track duration: 04:21
"Beat a Drum" as written by Michael J./mills Stipe
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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IMO - this may be one of Michael's most beautifully written lyrics OF ANY song in the entire REM catalogue. It is like a beautiful mosaic or water color in which every word contributes to the picture that he lovingly creates. Contrary to an epilogue or a eulogy with its finalities and overtones of death, this is much more of a tribute to a life led and more importantly, a life to still be fully lived.
Just a beautifully written song.
This was REM's first album in the post-Berry era following Bill's near death aneurysm that he suffered while on a European tour. Basically, he had told his bandmates that enough was enough, that he had gotten all that he ever wanted out of being in a great band - wealth, fame, and most importantly, security. He wanted a more simple,family-man type of lifestyle, and he chose to retire to his large piece of farmland down in Gerogia to become a farmer.
With that in my mind, go back and listen to the song.
It's all about Bill and his choice.
It was instant 'Shakespearian' love at first sight. Is this love returned? I do hope so.
The people involved are different from others around: they are seahorses; they look different; they act different but they still belong in their environment.
Around them are the dragonflies - the gossipers buzzing around because they have nothing of value to say. The bluejays, authority figures who look down on them. They may be educated and have 'high moral standards' but who are they to judge? Their high viewpoint has crashed down, they are on the same level, their society is no better than that of any other.
Coal is easily damaged, but given the love he yearns he can become as hard as diamond, indestructable. A second view on this could be that coal is something society rips thoughtlessly from the ground and burns up, it is as cheap and dirty but is it inexhaustible? The journey to diamond, the thing he is looking for, the thing that could make or break him,is the journey to be valued and treasured, perhaps by one person only, the person he loves, the person who may wear it on their finger.
The most beautiful lines ever written - "Beat a drum for me, like a butterfly wing. Tropical storm across the ocean." The drum is the drum of the heartbeat, and beat it for him, think of him, as gently as a butterfly wing (according to chaos theory) it will set the storm raging in his heart wherever he is.
Is the person ready for this? He acknowledges they are 'still halfway from coal'. He wants to know, but 'Don't explain', the hurt would be too much.
A song of love, a song I love. Inspired by nature and simplicity.
X
Just a lovely, sweet song. Lyrics don't usually move me this much, but this one means so much to me, I've thought about writing Michael Stipe a letter simply thanking him for writing it.
Once the narrator realises he (or she ;)!) is imperfect (i.e. not diamond) he/she says:
"My fall knocked a mean chip out of me"
So we have a fall (off the pedestal of perfection) and the fact that a chip is knocked out clearly means he/she is not diamond - as a diamond would not chip.
The feeling of one with nature, that results from this "fall", ignites the narrator's spirituality hence
"This is all I want, it's all I need
This is all I am, it's everything"
etc etc
Such a cool song (but strangely, one that I don't actually listen to that often :s)
We are reminded of our position later on in the song: "Don't forget, we're just halfway from coal".
It's a beautiful song that celebrates nature - it just has that edge of bringing us down to earth.
It was the "Don't forget, we're just halfway from coal" that clinched it for me.
Happy listening Prin
apparently this song is called "All I Want" in their database.
Lovely song, by the way.