R.E.M. at the BBC

-What will you miss most about being in R.E.M.?

-Performing live.

I, I, only, that just flew out of my mouth.

But I think that's what I'll miss the most, is performing.

-Well.

-With these guys.

Exactly, I mean, you know, I'll be playing somewhere with somebody

but to be on stage with Michael and Peter, Michael and Peter

and Bill, which will probably never happen again, that's just...

-That's sad.

-Yeah.

-I mean, that's, that's like losing a limb.

# Two drifters

# Off to see the world

# There's such a lot of world to see

# We're after

# The same

# Rainbow's end

# Waiting round the bend

# My huckleberry friend

# Moon River and me. #

MUSIC: "Pretty Persuasion"

# Here's what I want

# Hurry and buy

# All has been tried

# Hurry and buy

# Cannot wear that in this heat

# You're all wrong

# Trying to put that on my sleeve

# You're all wrong, all wrong

# She's got

# Pretty persuasion

# She's got

# Pretty persuasion

# God damn

# Your confusion

# She's got

# Pretty persuaaaa...

# It's what I want

# Hurry and buy

# All has been tried

# Hurry and buy

# Cannot wear that in this heat

# You're all wrong

# Trying to put that on my sleeve

# You're all wrong, all wrong

# She's got

# Pretty persuasion

# She's got

# Pretty persuasion

# God damn

# Your confusion

# She's got

# Pretty persuaaa...

# In the light I saw

# Quite a scene there

# It's what I want

# Hurry and buy

# All has been tried

# Hurry and buy

# Cannot wear that in this heat

# You're all wrong

# Trying to put that on my sleeve

# You're all wrong, all wrong

# She's got

# Pretty persuasion

# She's got

# Pretty persuasion

# God damn

# Your confusion

# She's got

# Pretty persuaaaaa...

Smart.

R.E.M. were described by April's Rolling Stone magazine

as America's hippest band.

Founded in 1980 by four college dropouts in Athens, Georgia,

R.E.M., as in rapid eye movement, the deepest phase of sleep,

have come to be worshipped by college students

and pop intellectuals all over the States.

The band's mystique comes from the enigmatic lyrics

and personality of their lead singer Michael Stipe.

For years, they stayed loyal to the independent I.R.S. label

with the consequence that they remained relatively unknown

on this side of the Atlantic.

Now, they've signed up with Warner Brothers in a bid

for world domination.

Filmed during their recent visit to London, this is Pop Song 89.

# Hello, I saw you I know you, I knew you

# I think I can remember your name name

# Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself

# I think I thought you were someone else

# Should we talk about the weather?

# Hi, hi, hi

# Should we talk about the government?

# Hi, hi, hi, hi

# Hello, I saw you I know you, I knew you

# I think I can remember your name name

# Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself

# I think I thought you were someone else

# Should we talk about the weather?

# Hi, hi, hi

# Should we talk about the government?

# Hi, hi, hi, hi

# Hello, my friend are you visible today?

# No-one ever knew that it could be so strange, strange

# Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself

# I think I thought you were someone else

# Should we talk about the weather?

# Hi, hi, hi

# Should we talk about the government?

# Hi, hi, hi, hi

# Hi, hi, hi-hi

# Hi, hi, hi-hi, hi-hi

# Hi, hi, hi-hi

# Hi, hi, hi-hi, hi-hi, hi-hi

# Hi-hi, hi-hi, hi-hi ha-ha, ha-ha. #

Here comes a band who are brilliant live.

And, at last, they have a big hit. R.E.M., here's Orange Crush.

CHEERING

# Follow me, don't follow me

# I've got my spine I've got my orange crush

# Collar me, don't colour me

# I've got my spine I've got my orange crush

# We are agents of the free

# I've had my fun and now it's time to serve

-# Over me, not over me

-# Your conscience overseas

# Coming in fast, over me

# Oooh oooh oooh ooooh

# Oooh oooh ooooh oooh

# Follow me, don't follow me

# I've got my spine I've got my orange crush

# Collar me, don't colour me

# I've got my spine I've got my orange crush

# We are agents of the free

# I've had my fun and now it's time to serve

-# Over me, not over me

-# Your conscience overseas

# Coming in fast, over me

# Ah oooh oooh

-# Ah oooooh

-# Oooh oooh oooh

# Wa-ooo-oooh. #

CHEERING

MILITARY CHANTS IN BACKGROUND OF MUSIC

# Follow me, don't follow me

# I've got my spine I've got my orange crush

# Collar me, don't colour me. #

One, two, three, four. One, two.

MUSIC: "Losing My Religion"

# Oh, life is bigger

# It's bigger than you And you are not me

# The lengths that I will go to The distance in your eyes

# Oh, no, I've said too much

# I set it up

# That's me in the corner

# That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion

# Trying to keep up with you

# And I don't know if I can do it

# Oh, no, I've said too much

# I haven't said enough

# I thought that I heard you laughing

# I thought that I heard you sing

# I think I thought I saw you try

# Every whisper

# Every waking hour

# I'm choosing my confessions

# Trying to keep an eye on you

# Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool fool

# Oh, no, I've said too much

# I set it up

# Consider this

# Consider this

# The hint of the century

# Consider this

# The slip

# That brought me to my knees failed

# What if all these fantasies come flailing around

# Now, I've said

# Too much

# I thought that I heard you laughing

# I thought that I heard you sing

# I think I thought I saw you try

# But that was just a dream

# That was just a dream

# And that's me in the corner

# That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion

# Trying to keep up with you

# And I don't know if I can do it

# Oh, no, I've said too much

# I haven't said enough

# I thought that I heard you laughing

# I thought that I heard you sing

# I think I thought I saw you try

# That was just a dream

# Try, cry, fly, try

# That was just a dream

# Just a dream, just a dream. #

We're R.E.M.,

you're watching The Late Show, that was Losing My Religion,

our current single.

This is another song off of Out Of Time called Half A World Away.

One, two, three. One, two, three.

# This could be the saddest dusk

# I've ever seen

# To turn to a miracle

# High alive

# My mind is racing

# As it always will

# My hands tire, my heart aches

# I'm half a world away here

# My head sworn to go it alone

# Hold it along

# Haul it along

# Hold it

# Go it alone

# Hold it along

# Hold

# Oh, this lonely deep sit hollow

# Half a world, half a world away

# My shoes are gone, my life spent

# I've had too much to drink

# I didn't think And I didn't think of you

# I guess that's all I needed

# To go it alone

# And hold it along

# Haul it along

# Hold it

# Go it alone

# Hold it along

# Hold

# Oh, this lonely world is wasted

Pathetic eyes high alive

# Blind the tide that's turning the sea

# The storm it came up strong

# It shook the trees And blew away our fear

# I couldn't even hear

# To go it alone

# Hold it along

# Haul it along

# And hold it

# Go it alone

# Hold it along

# Hold

# Go it alone

# Hold it along

# Haul it along

# Hold it

# Blackbirds, backwards forwards and fall

# And hold

# Oh, this could be the saddest dusk

# I've ever seen

# Turn to a miracle

# High alive

# My mind is racing

# As it always will

# My hands tire, my heart aches

# I'm half a world away

# Go-o-o-oooooo. #

CHEERING

# I know you

# I know you've seen her

# She's a sad tomato

# She's three miles of bad road

# Walking down the street

# Will I never

# Meet her?

# She's a real woman-child

# Oh, my kiss breath turpentine

# I am smitten

# I'm the real thing

# I'm the real thing

# Have you seen her come around?

# My crush with eyeliner

# I'm in like

# I'm infatuated

# It's all too much pressure

# She's all that I can take

# What position should I wear?

# Cop an attitude

# Faker

# How can I convince her?

# Faker

# That I'm invented too. Yeah

# I am smitten

# I'm the real thing

# I'm the real thing

# We all invent ourselves And, uh, you know me

# She's a sad tomato

# She's three miles of bad road

# She's her own invention

# She's her own invention

# That gets me in the throat

# What can I make myself be?

-# Life is strange

-# Yeah, life is strange

# What can I make myself be?

# Faker

# To make her mine

# I am smitten

# I'll do anything

# I'll do anything

# A kiss breath turpentine

# My crush with eyeliner. #

CHEERING

The American group R.E.M. made history

when they signed their latest multi-million record day,

deal, even.

And today sees that deal bare fruit for the first time.

From humble beginnings in Athens, Georgia, R.E.M, have risen

to become one of the biggest rock bands in the world.

Just last month,

Warner Brothers, in the US, re-signed R.E.M.

to produce another five albums.

It's a deal worth a staggering £52 million,

the largest in music business history.

# Hey, he-ey

# I ate the lotus

# Hey, hey, hey, hey

# I was hell

# Sarcastic, silver swell

# That day it rained tough spun

# Hard won

# No ocean flower aquarium

# Bad land

# Give a hand

# Honey dip

# Flim flam, hey, hey

# Hey, hey

# That cat can walk like a big, bad man

-# So happy to show us

-# Happy to show us

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

-# Say, haven't you noticed?

-# Haven't you noticed?

# Huh, huh

# I ate the lotus

# Storefront window, I reflect

# Just last week I was merely heck

# Tilt the scale

# I was hell

# They picked me up

# And then I fell

# Who's this stranger? Crowbar spine.

# Dot, dot, dot and I feel fine

# Let it rain

# Rain, ra-aiiiin

# Bring my happy back again

-# So happy to show us

-# Happy to show us

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

-# Say, haven't you noticed?

-# Haven't you noticed?

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

# Huh, huh, huh

# I ate the lotus

# Let it rain

# Rain, rain

# Save me from myself again

# Wash away my ugly sins

# Opposing thumb and dorsal fin

# That monkey died for my grin

# Bring my happy back again Let it rain

# Rain, rain

# Bring my happy back again

-# So happy to show us

-# Happy to show us

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

-# Say haven't you noticed?

-# Haven't you noticed?

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

# Huh-huh

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus

-# I ate the lotus. #

CHEERING

# Receiving department, 3am

# Staff cuts have sucked up the overage

# Directives are posted No call-backs, complaints

# Everywhere is calm

# Hong Kong is present

# Taipei awakes all talk of circadian rhythm

# I see today with the newsprint fray

# My night is coloured headache grey

# Daysleeper

# Daysleeper

# Daysleeper

# The bull and the bear Are marking their territories

# They're leading the blind With their international glories

# I'm the screen, the blinding light I'm the screen, I work at night

# I see today with the newsprint fray

# My night is coloured headache grey

# Don't wake me

# With so much

# Daysleeper

# I cried the other night

# I can't even say why

# Fluorescent flat, caffeine lights

# It's furious balancing

# I'm the screen, the blinding light

# I'm the screen, I work at night

# I see today with the newsprint fray

# My night is coloured headache grey

# Don't wake me

# With so much

# The ocean machine is set to nine

# I'll squeeze in new heaven and valentine

# My bed is pulling me gravity Daysleeper

# Daysleeper

# Daysleeper

# Daysleeper

# Daysleeper. #

CHEERING

Thank you

MUSIC: "Perfect Circle"

# Put your hair back

# We get to leave

# 11 gallows

# On your sleeve

# Shallow figure

# Winner's gain

# 11 shadows

# Way out of place

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Pull your dress on

# And stay real close

# Who might leave you?

# Where I left off

# A perfect circle of acquaintances and friends

# Drink another

# Coin a phrase

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Try to win

# It suits your needs

# Speak out sometimes

# And try to win

# Aaaah, ooooh

# Heaven assumed Shoulders high in the room

# Heaven assumed Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon Shoulders high in the room

# Standing too soon

# Ooooh, ooh

# Oooooh, ooh. #

CHEERING

Welcome to the wonderful world of Later.

A world full of extraordinary talent.

Let's begin in this corner.

We welcome R.E.M.

CHEERING

MUSIC: "Imitation Of Life"

# Charades pop skill Water hyacinth

# Named by a poet

# Imitation of life

# Like a coy in a frozen pond Like a goldfish in a bowl

# I don't want to hear you cry

# That sugar cane that tasted good

# That cinnamon, that's Hollywood Come on, come on

# No-one can see you try

# You want the greatest thing

# The greatest thing since bread came sliced

# You've got it all You've got it sized

# Like a Friday fashion show teenager cruising in the corner

# Trying to look like you don't try

# That sugar cane that tasted good

# That's cinnamon, that's Hollywood

# Come on, come on No-one can see you cry

# No-one can see you cry

# That sugar cane that tasted good

# That's freezing rain That's what you could

# Come on, come on No-one can see you cry

# This sugar cane, this lemonade This hurricane, I'm not afraid

# Come on, come on No-one can see me cry

# This lightening storm This tidal wave

# This avalanche, I'm not afraid

# Come on, come on No-one can see me cry

# That sugar cane that tasted good

# That's who you are That's what you could

# Come on, come on No-one can see you try

# That sugar cane that tasted good

# That's who you are That's what you could

# Come on, come on No-one can see you try. #

CHEERING

MUSIC: "All The Way To Reno"

# Humming

# All the way to Reno

# You dusted the non-believers

# And challenged the laws of chance

# Now, sweet

# You're so sugar sweet

# You may as well have had kicked me

# Listened honestly

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# Wing is written on your feet

# Your Achilles heel

# Is a tendency

# To dream

# But you've known that from the beginning

# You didn't have to go so far

# You didn't have to go

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# You know who you are

# You know who you are

# You know who you are, oh, are

# Humming

# All the way to Reno

# You've written your own directions

# And whistled the rules of change

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# You know what you are You're gonna be a star

# Humming

# All the way to Reno

# All the way to Reno

# All the way to Reno

# You're gonna be a star, you are

# You're gonna be a star

# You're gonna be a star, you are

# You're gonna be a star

# You're gonna be a star, you are

# You're gonna be a star. #

CHEERING

Music, now, from a band who've established themselves

as one of the most popular rock groups in the world.

Welcome, please, R.E.M.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

MUSIC: "Bad Day"

# A public service announcement followed me home the other day

# I paid it never mind, go away

# Shit so thick you can stir it with a stick-free Teflon

# Whitewashed presidency

# We're sick of being jerked around

# Wear that on your sleeve

# Broadcast me a joyful noise Unto the times, Lord

# Count your blessings

# We're sick of being jerked around We all fall down

# Have you ever seen the televised St Vitus subcommittee prize

# Investigation dance Those ants in pants glances

# Well, look behind the eyes

# It's a hallowed, hollow anaesthetised

# Save my own ass, screw these guys

# Smoke and mirror lock down

# Broadcast me a joyful noise Unto the times, Lord

# Count your blessings

# The papers wouldn't lie I sigh, not one more

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

# We're dug in deep The price is steep

# The auctioneer is such a creep

# The lights went out The oil ran dry

# We blamed it on the other guy

# Sure, all men are created equal Here's a church, here's a steeple

# Please stay tuned, we cut to sequel Ashes, ashes, we all fall down

# Broadcast me a joyful noise Unto the times, Lord

# Count your blessings

# Ignore the lower fear Oh, this means war

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

# I saw the light, it can't be right

# Broadcast me a joyful noise Unto the times, Lord

# Count your blessings

# We're sick of being jerked around

# We all fall down

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

# It's been a bad day Please don't take our picture

# It's been a bad day, please

-# Do-do do do-doo-ooo

-# Oh oh ooh

-# Do-do do-do do-ooo

-# Oh oh ooh

-# Do-do do-do do-ooh

-# Oh oh oooh

-# Do-do do-do do-oooh

-# Oh oh ooh. #

CHEERING

This record that you have at the moment

has 15 years of fantastic material?

In 15 years time, what would you like to be doing then, do you think?

-15 years from now?

-Yeah.

-Er.

-Sitting on a beach in the Caribbean.

-I'll take that.

-I'd do that next week.

-I don't have to wait 15 years for that.

-Yeah, OK.

Good. OK, in a moment, you're going to play Nightswimming.

-What inspired Nightswimming?

-Nightswimming.

-Yeah.

-Where did you go for your nightswimming?

-Er, in Georgia.

-Outside of Athens, Georgia.

-Ah.

People didn't have a real lot of money and there wasn't much to do.

So, everyone would go out and have drinks and head to the swimming pool.

That's really what this song is about.

I'm delighted to give you my piano.

-I want you to just have that and do it.

-Thank you.

# Nightswimming

# Deserves a quiet night

# The photograph on the dashboard Taken years ago

# Turned around backwards so the windshield shows

# Every streetlight reveals a picture in reverse

# Still it's so much clearer

# I forgot my shirt At the water's edge

# The moon is low tonight

# Nightswimming Deserves a quiet night

# I'm not sure all these people understand

# It's not like years ago

# The fear of getting caught

# Of recklessness and water

# They cannot see me naked

# These things, they go away

# Replaced by every day

# Nightswimming Remembering that night

# September's coming soon

# I'm pining for the moon

# And what if there were two Side by side in orbit

# Around the fairest sun?

# That bright, tight forever drum

# Could not describe

# Nightswimming

# You, I thought I knew you

# You I cannot judge

# You, I thought you knew me

# This one laughing quietly

# Underneath my breath

# Nightswimming

# The photograph reflects

# Every streetlight a reminder

# Nightswimming Deserves a quiet night

# Deserves a quiet night. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

With me, in the studio, are Michael Stipe and Mike Mills.

Why have you decided to get involved

in this particular presidential election?

I mean, you know, you've been around for a bit

and you've seen presidential elections come and go.

This one has really got you going.

Well, you know, we've been around since Nixon

and that was a scary one.

And, er, nothing less than the fate and future of the United States

of America is at stake here and we feel it very keenly.

And we just, we don't feel any way that we could sit aside

and not say something about this.

# It's quiet now

# And what it brings is everything

# Comes calling back

# A brilliant night

# I'm still awake

# I've looked ahead I'm sure I saw you there

# You don't need me to tell you now

# That nothing can compare

# You might have laughed if I told you

# You might have hidden the frown

# You might have succeeded in changing me

# It's pulling me apart

-# I might have been turned around

-# Changed

# It's easier to leave than to be left behind

# Leaving was never my proud

-# Leaving New York, never easy

-# It's pulling me apart

# I saw the light fading out

# You find it in your heart It's pulling me apart

# You find it in your heart

# I told you forever I'd love you forever

# I told you, I love you I love you forever

# I told you forever I'd love you forever

# I told you, I love you I love you forever

# You never, you never You told me forever

# It's pulling me apart

# You might have succeeded in changing me

# I might have been turned around

# It's easier to leave than to be left behind

# Leaving was never my proud

-# Leaving New York, never easy

-# It's pulling me apart

# I saw the light fading out

# Changed. #

CHEERING

Thank you.

To be onstage with Michael and Peter and Bill,

which will probably never happen again.

That's just... That's sad.

-I mean, that's like, it's like losing a limb.

-Yeah.

-And, um, and...

But at the same time, you know, it's,

it's the choice you have to make.

I just went to the bathroom, here, between questions,

and was singing the chorus to Hallelujah in the bathroom

cos it's beautiful acoustics.

And all I could hear was his vocal above mine.

Which, of course, wasn't there, except in my head.

I will really miss that.

MUSIC: "The One I Love"

# This one goes out to the one I love

# This one goes out to the one I've left behind

# A simple prop

# To occupy my time

# This one goes out to the one I love

-# Fire

-# She's coming down on her own now

-# Fire

-Coming down on her own

# This one goes out to the one I love

# This one goes out to the one I've left behind

# A simple prop

# To occupy my time

# This one goes out to the one I love

-# Fire

-She's coming down on her own now

-# Fire

-Coming down on her own

# This one goes out to the one I love

# This one goes to the one I've left behind

# Another prop

# Has occupied my time

# This one goes out to the one I love

-# Fire

-Coming down on her own now

-# Fire

-Coming down on her own

-# Fire

-She's coming down on her own now

-# Fire

-Coming down on her own. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE