E-Bow the Letter
R.E.M. Lyrics

Look up and what do you see? All of you and all of me
The singer asks the listener to look up and contemplate all that surrounds them - people, the world, and the universe - and recognize that they are all connected and intertwined.

Fluorescent and starry, some of them, they surprise
The singer observes that some aspects of life are vibrant and surprising, like the stars in the night sky, and that adds to the beauty and complexity of life.

The bus ride, I went to write this, 4:00 a.m, this letter
The singer mentions the context in which they wrote this letter - on a bus ride at four in the morning - to give an insight into their state of mind and emotions.

Fields of poppies, little pearls, all the boys and all the girls
The artist paints a picture of a tranquil and idyllic setting with poppy fields and a diverse group of people, signifying that life has its own beauty and challenges for everyone.

Sweet-toothed, each and every one a little scary
The artist recognizes that everyone has their own quirks and fears, which can make them seem intimidating or threatening at times.

I said your name, I wore it like a badge of teenage film stars
The singer reminisces about how they once adored and admired someone, like a teenager idolizes a movie star and wants to emulate them.

Hash bars, cherry mash and tinfoil tiaras
The singer describes scenes of indulgence, hedonism, and improvisation, highlighting how people indulge in life's pleasures in different ways.

Dreaming of Maria Callas, whoever she is
The artist admits that they don't know who Maria Callas is but is probably enamored by her or her music.

This fame thing, I don't get it
The artist acknowledges that they don't understand the concept of fame and how it affects people's lives and behaviors.

I wrap my hand in plastic to try to look through it
The artist reveals their attempts to separate themselves from the world, possibly due to fear or disillusionment, by wrapping their hand in plastic to see or feel things differently.

Maybelline eyes and girl-as-boy moves
The singer tries to describe their perception of someone's gender identity, dressing style, and makeup choices, but their language betrays either ambiguity or confusion.

I can take you far, this star thing, I don't get it
The artist asserts their ability to achieve great things or take someone on an adventure but still admits their bafflement on the subject of celebrity and the glamor associated with it.

(I'll take you over there) (I'll take you over there) Aluminum tastes like fear Adrenaline, it pulls us near (I'll take you over there) It tastes like fear (I'll take you over)
The repetition of these lines evokes a sense of urgency, excitement, and danger, as if the singer is trying to take someone on an adrenaline-pumping journey, away from their fears and doubts.

Will you live to eighty-three? Will you ever welcome me?
The singer asks two difficult and uncertain questions - whether the listener will live a long life and whether they will ever accept the singer's love or friendship - which underscores the transience and ambiguity of life and relationships.

Will you show me something that nobody else has seen?
The singer expresses a desire to explore unknown and uncharted territories with the listener, to experience something new and exciting together, which suggests their restlessness and curiosity about life.

Smoke it, drink, here comes the flood, anything to thin the blood
The artist acknowledges how some people try to cope with their problems or emotions by smoking, drinking, or indulging in other vices, especially during trying times when life may feel overwhelming.

These corrosives do their magic slowly and sweet
The artist recognizes the allure and the power of addictive substances or behaviors, which may provide temporary relief or pleasure but slowly erode one's physical or mental health and well-being.

Phone, eat it, drink, just another chink
The singer laments how quick and easy it is to be distracted by technology, food, or drink, which can become sources of addiction or escapism, leaving one unsatisfied, empty, or broken.

Cuts and dents, they catch the light
The singer reflects on the inevitability of getting hurt or wounded in life, both physically and emotionally, but suggests that even these scars or imperfections may have some beauty or luminosity to them.

Aluminum, the weakest link
The artist references the metal aluminum, which is often used as a metaphor for fragility or vulnerability, pointing out the limitations or liabilities of one's character or circumstances.

I don't want to disappoint you, I'm not here to anoint you
The artist expresses their reluctance to assume the role of a savior or a hero for the listener or anyone else, recognizing that they also have their flaws, doubts, and limitations.

I would lick your feet, but is that the sickest move?
The artist uses a provocative and obscene image to convey their uncertainty about their own desires or intentions towards the listener, and to question what is socially acceptable or morally right.

I wear my own crown of sadness and sorrow
The singer recognizes and owns their own struggles and pain, acknowledging that they carry it with them wherever they go like a crown, possibly as a reminder or a warning for themselves and others.

And who'd have thought tomorrow would be so strange?
The artist suggests that life is unpredictable and full of surprises, and that even the future can hold strange or unexpected events or possibilities, inviting the listener to embrace this uncertainty and explore it with them.

My loss, and here we go again
The singer admits to experiencing losses or setbacks but is ready to start anew or move on, signifying their resilience and determination to face whatever life throws their way.

(I'll take you over there) Aluminum tastes like fear Adrenaline, it pulls us near (I'll take you over, take you there) It tastes like fear, pulls us near (I'll take you over, take you there) It tastes like fear, pulls us near
These lines repeat the same motifs mentioned before - the singer's desire to take the listener somewhere exciting and scary, the power of aluminum as a metaphor for fear, and the attraction of adrenaline - to create a sense of hypnotic tension and urgency.

Florescent and starry
The singer describes life again as full of light, color, and beauty, like fluorescent lights shining in the night sky, and reinforces their sense of wonder and amazement at life's mysteries and surprises.

And some of them, they surprise
The artist reiterates how life can hold unexpected events or people, who can challenge one's assumptions or beliefs, and yet make life more interesting and diverse.

I can't look it in the eyes, Seconal, Spanish fly, absinthe, kerosene
The artist confesses their struggles and addictions, suggesting that they may have used drugs or other substances to cope with their fears, depression, or anxiety, which has made them unable to face certain aspects of life directly.

Cherry-flavored neck and collar
The singer uses another vivid and sensual image of someone's body parts to convey their desires or fantasies, possibly adding a note of irony or humor to the line.

I can smell the sorrow on your breath
The singer suggests that they can sense or empathize with the listener's pain or sadness, even without them expressing it directly, indicating their sensitivity or intuition.

The sweat, the victory and sorrow, the smell of fear
The artist combines different emotions and sensations - sweat, victory, sorrow, fear - to emphasize the complexity and intensity of human experience, with its highs and lows, triumphs and defeats, certainties and doubts.

I got it
The last line of the song can be read as a sign of affirmation or understanding from the artist, who has gone through a journey of self-discovery and reconciliation, both with themselves and with the world.