You know where I come from
you know what I feel
you're Yul Brenner Westworld
reporting from the field.
I threw it into reverse,
made a motion to repeal.
You kicked my legs from under me,
and tried to take the wheel.
I told you I wanted to be wrong,
but everyone is humming a song
that I don't understand.
now I know that the sun has shined on my side of the street.
the basket of America, the weevils and the wheat.
the milk and honeyed congregation, scrubbed and apple-cheeked
salute Apollo 13 from the rattle jewelry seats.
mythology's seductive and it turned a trick on me
that I have just begun to understand.
I told you I wanted to be wrong,
but everyone is humming a song
that I don't understand.
the rodeo is staged, gold circle goat-ropers and clowns.
a rumble in the third act, tie 'em up and burn 'em down.
we're armed to the teeth, born a little breech,
blue-plate special analysts, cells and SUV's
we can't approach the Allies 'cause they seem a little peeved
and speak a language we don't understand.
I told you I wanted to be wrong
but everyone is humming a song
that I don't understand.
[prop up The Omega Man, we're primed for victory,
God gave us the upper hand, there's honor among thieves.
temper it with arrogance, a dash of sad conceit.
the top's down on the T-Bird, we're the children of the free]
storm into the boardroom of the conquering elite.
did you recognize the madman who is shouting in the streets?
destroy the things that I don't understand
destroy the things that I don't understand.
(Lyrics are copyright R.E.M. unless otherwise stated as a cover version, in which case copyright is owned by that artist.)