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Me in Honey
R.E.M. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I sat there looking ugly
Looking ugly and mean
I knew what you were saying
You were saying to me

Baby's got some new rules
Baby, said she's had it with me
It seems a shame to waste your time on me
It seems a lot to waste your time for me

Left me to love
What it's doing to me

There's a lot of honey in this world
Baby, this honey's for me
You've got to do what you do
Do it with me
It seems a shame you waste your time for me

Left me to love
What it's doing to me

Knocked silly
Knocked flat
Sideways down
These things they pick you up
And they turn you around
Say your piece
Say you're sweet for me
It's all the same to share the pain with me
It's all the same, save the shame for me

Left me to love
What it's doing to me

Baby's got some new rules
Baby said she's had it with me
There's a fly in the honey
Baby's got a baby with me
That's a part
That's a part of me

Left me to love
What it's doing to me

Left me to love
What it's doing to me

What about me?
What about me?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to R.E.M.'s song Me In Honey seem to describe a situation where the singer is feeling down and unattractive. The line "I sat there looking ugly, looking ugly and mean" suggests that the singer is feeling self-conscious and lacking self-esteem. The next line "I knew what you were saying, you were saying to me" implies that someone else is commenting on or judging the singer's appearance.


The following lines introduce a new character, "Baby," who has "new rules" and is apparently fed up with the singer. The singer laments that it's a "shame to waste [their] time on me" and that it's "a lot to waste [their] time for me." The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the singer's feelings of worthlessness and self-pity.


As the song progresses, there is a shift in tone towards resilience and perseverance. The lines "knocked silly, knocked flat, sideways down" suggest that the singer has been through a difficult experience, but that they are not defeated. The singer urges Baby to "do what you do" and to "do it with me," suggesting that they are willing to work through their issues and continue their relationship.


The final lines of the song return to the singer's introspective thoughts, with the repeated questioning of "What about me?" Overall, Me In Honey seems to be a meditation on self-worth, perseverance, and the challenge of maintaining relationships in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

I sat there looking ugly
I was sitting there, feeling unattractive and unpleasant


Looking ugly and mean
My appearance and demeanor were projecting negativity and hostility


I knew what you were saying
I understood the message you were trying to convey


You were saying to me
Your message was directed towards me


Baby's got some new rules
My partner has established new conditions for our relationship


Baby, said she's had it with me
My partner has reached a breaking point and can no longer tolerate me


It seems a shame to waste your time on me
It's a pity to invest your time and energy into me, given the current situation


It seems a lot to waste your time for me
Devoting that much effort towards me feels excessive and unwarranted


Left me to love
I am left to deal with the emotions and consequences of my actions


What it's doing to me
The impact of the situation on my mental and emotional state


There's a lot of honey in this world
There are many sources of happiness and fulfillment in life


Baby, this honey's for me
I am claiming my share of happiness and fulfillment


You've got to do what you do
It's necessary for you to behave according to your desires and needs


Do it with me
Please include me in your plans and activities


Knocked silly
I was disoriented and overwhelmed by the situation


Knocked flat
The situation has flattened me emotionally


Sideways down
I feel like the situation has knocked me off my feet and thrown me off balance


These things they pick you up
Situations like this can be opportunities for growth and transformation


And they turn you around
These situations have the power to completely change your perspective and trajectory in life


Say your piece
Take the opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings on the situation


Say you're sweet for me
Tell me that you care about me


It's all the same to share the pain with me
I would appreciate it if you would open up and share your struggles with me


It's all the same, save the shame for me
You don't need to feel embarrassed or ashamed about your struggles, as I am here to support you


There's a fly in the honey
There's a problem or complication in the current situation


Baby's got a baby with me
My partner and I have created new life together


That's a part
Having a child is a significant part of our lives


That's a part of me
Our child is an integral part of me and my partner's lives


What about me?
What is my place and role in the current situation?




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@PatoMeza1980

This song is, literally, just TWO CHORDS. And it's amazing. A perfect close for a perfect album.

@freakodeluxe

REM were masters of turning simple chords into epic music

@BradfordPost

I know. I heard it on the radio today for the first time and really enjoyed it.

@johnsalisbury1707

Its all about the syncopation this one! Superb.

@curly_wyn

The album is awesome, but it’s not perfect, and that’s because of one thing: the sequencing. The album is very disjointed because the way the tracks are arranged makes no sense.

@squirrelbutler2119

@@curly_wyn Yeah....no.

I fell in love with this album because the songs were all really good. And the ordering didn't change anything.

So...No. This album was and is great.

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@chriso.8806

I can't get their voices out of my mind today. The harmonization between both Michael and Kate is so beautiful. I wish they did more music together.

@baybydilly742

They did "Shiny Happy People" together...

@patriciapatricia1397

I always loved her harmonizing bits in Iggy Pop’s “candy.” https://youtu.be/6bLOjmY--TA

@harryjames9050

This is my favorite track thanks to Kate. I got to shake her hand before a B-52 concert

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