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Near Wild Heaven
R.E.M. Lyrics

Whenever we hold each other
We hold each other
There's a feeling that's going
Something has gone wrong

And I don't know how much longer I can take it
House made of heart, break it
Take my head in your hands and shake it
In this, near wild heaven
Not near enough

Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)

Whatever it takes, I'm giving
It's just a gift I'm given
Try to live inside
Trying to move inside
And I always thought that it would make me smarter
But it's only made me harder
My heart thrown open wide
This near wild heaven
Not near enough

Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)

I'm holding my hands together
I'm holding my feet together
I'm holding myself together
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough
Near wild heaven
Near wild heaven

Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

"Near Wild Heaven" is the third single released from R.E.M.'s seventh studio album "Out of Time" in 1991. The song was the first single released by the band to have had its lyrics both co-written and sung by bassist Mike Mills. According to a quote from Peter Buck in R.E.M. Inside Out: The Stories Behind Every Song by Craig Rosen, the lyrics are a collaboration between Mills and lead singer Michael Stipe. It peaked at No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart but the single was not released in the United States. Read Full Bio"Near Wild Heaven" is the third single released from R.E.M.'s seventh studio album "Out of Time" in 1991. The song was the first single released by the band to have had its lyrics both co-written and sung by bassist Mike Mills. According to a quote from Peter Buck in R.E.M. Inside Out: The Stories Behind Every Song by Craig Rosen, the lyrics are a collaboration between Mills and lead singer Michael Stipe. It peaked at No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart but the single was not released in the United States.

Mike Mills had written the lyrics to the single "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville", and he had sung the cover song "Superman", but he had not sung his own work on a released-as-a-single recording.

The music video for this song features the band playing the song in a crowded café.

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01Radio Song3:14

02Losing My Religion4:43

03Low4:49

04Near Wild Heaven3:12

PT3M12S

R.E.M.

05Endgame3:21

06Shiny Happy People3:44

07Belong4:14

08Half a World Away3:21

09Texarkana3:36

10Country Feedback4:11

11Me in Honey

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

David Castro

5y↑72

Lyrics:

Whenever we hold each other
We hold each other
There's a feeling that's gone
Something has gone wrong
And i don't know how much longer i can take it
House made of heart break it
Take my head in your hands and shake it
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough.

Living inside
Living inside
Near wild heaven

Whatever it takes i'm giving
It's just a gift i'm given
Try to live inside
Trying to move inside
And i always thought that it would make me smarter
But it's only made me harder
My heart thrown open wide
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough.

Living inside
Living inside
Near wild heaven

I'm holding my hands together
I'm holding my feet together
I'm holding myself together
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough

All comments from YouTube:

Scott Quick

8w↑13

The first thing about REM that hooked me was their vocal layering. This song really showcases Stipe and Mills understanding of harmony.

Scott Quick

4w↑1

Good point. Bill was awesome too. You could really hear him live. They were not as great a band without Bill Berry.

Alan

Bill too

Nathan Culp

2y↑134

This criminally underrated gem and Fall One Me still bring tears to my 50 plus year old eyes every time I hear them.

Gean Filipe Moura

36w↑3

you said the two songs I like the most man how cool

Mark S.

9y↑429

Can't get enough Mike Mills leads. Wildly underrated musician.

framodcole

36w

Yeah. But they are mocking the african american choosing choice lady.

The Music ♪

39w

AMO SUS CANCIONES, 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

koby mmm

1y↑1

Dam right

Rebecca Drinkard

2y↑1

Yes!! 2 of my top 5 by them…he sang lead. ❤️❤️❤️

Matt Roberts

2y↑1

I hate that you can't get enough
Please

Take this love

Enjoy this band
It's the future

14 More Replies...

Edward Byard

2y↑151

Thirty years ago.

Where, where does time go?

Still my go-to Summer album. Thank you Bill, Mike, Peter & Michael.

Rhonda Sampsel

52w

Yes a true Majestic time I tell my grandchildren about this band.I hook my ear phones on and go back in time

Marc Tessier

1y↑1

It just goes...

Russell Smith

1y↑1

Summer album, couldn't agree more

Oscar Vázquez

absolutely right bro

koookeee

1y↑3

@James Newing I feel you. The early 90s are seriously underrated as a time when – finally – we (in the western world, that is) seemed to get a break at long last from so many threats hanging over our heads: cold War, certain nuclear annihilation, Aids, heroin, acid rain and whatnot. Well, it was a good ride while it lastet.

2 More Replies...

Suse Bennet

35w↑18

This song reminds me of the good times with my ex-husband..I just sent him a link to it and he said it made him smile ❤

Alan

That’s nice🙂

david p

11w↑1

nice story 😊

R W

6y↑200

One of the greatest bands ever. This is breathtaking.

אורן יוגב

4w↑1

🎯

Ken Vail

15w↑1

Something about jangly guitars and harmonies - power pop heaven

Naroa Merinez

31w↑2

No habrá

Nunca nadie como ellos

Simon .Howlett

51w↑4

The best ever ❤

Alan

1y↑6

Agree 100%

alex

1y↑33

I was visiting my dad in hospital last month. I was in the bus, early morning, everywhere was dark. This song randomly started to play as city lights were following each other one by one, and I felt like everything was normal, everything was okay. It soothed me.

Petite Langue

42w↑17

I adore REM since I was fifteen years old. Now I'm on my thirties and I still listen to them.

Pollomariov

2y↑30

This was my first cassette, with tears in my eyes about this precious masterpiece.

Raj Nirvan

49w↑1

I had Out Of Time on cassette too

Hiro Opaw

5w↑2

Mike is so talented. He plays guitar base guitar and piano very well, and He sings very well. I really envy him.

Omar Vicente García Sánchez

2w↑1

The lyrics to "Near Wild Heaven" are an ode to love and the excitement that comes with being close to someone you love. Bright harmonies and a jangly guitar riff combine to create a song that is upbeat and upbeat. Michael Stipe's voice is smooth and melodic, carrying the song's lyrics with palpable emotion.

Quay Evano

1y↑15

This is my favorite REM song. Brings me literally to near wild heaven.

Liliana Wojciechowska

3y↑10

I love Mike's voice. Fragile and sweet.

Robert Lane

5y↑5

This is one of those songs that always makes me happy. REM wasn't new wave it was another wave.

MrVirtube

3y↑25

I actually can't think of any way this song could be better. Perfection.

Jason Chambers

3y↑3

More cowbell.

smiddlecn

12y↑15

I love everything about this video--the song itself, how it was filmed, the way it captured the personalities of the band members, the use of colour--it's amazing--and it's obvious R.E.M. had some fun while making it.

Marco Antonio

2y↑11

REM faz parte da trilha da minha vida. Parece que foi ontem que ouvi essa música pela primeira vez e esse clipe, transborda beleza. Fui adolescente em uma época incrível e sou muito grato por isso.

Jason Boyle

8y↑13

This song instantly makes me happy whenever it plays on the radio . brilliant! !

gorflunk

6y↑19

This song has always been able to reach right in there and give my heart a good squeeze. Still haven't figured out if it means to hurt it or not.

Claire Hamilton

4y↑2

gorflunk that’s how I feel about this whole album and in fact REM in general. They make me feel vulnerable... it’s profound but not always comfortable. I remember so clearly when this came out and it’s nice to revisit now that a healthy amount of time has passed.

thebadloser

2y↑25

I may get a lot of flak from hardcore REM fans, but to me this is the best piece of music they ever made. Masterpiece.

elduuude

26w↑2

I think I can consider myself a hardcore R.E.M. fan, and this is one of my absolute favourite R.E.M. songs. It's magic. I love Mike Mills' singing as well. And the whole feeling of the song.

It was some family trip in 1994 and 16-year old me had his discman with him and bought Out of Time and Dead Letter Office and was listening to them a lot. Now it's next to impossible for me to make any list of favourite R.E.M. songs cause I love so many and it keeps changing as well. But "Texarkana", "Stumble" and "Near Wild Heaven" would always be among my favourites.

Gean Filipe Moura

36w

@Nathan Culp for me too

Nathan Culp

50w↑2

This one and Fall On Me are their two best songs IMO

Alan

1y↑2

It is a great song

dspf68

2y↑3

not from us!

ash rc30

6y↑104

This was the first song I listened to when my dad passed away. I hope he is in a wild heaven and not just near!! Miss you daddy xx

david p

3y↑5

I feel your pain brother

Luis Alvarado

3y↑8

This comment brought tears to my eyes. God bless you and your daddy.

framodcole

3y↑2

I had sundown by Gordon. Sorry.

DANNY MCGILL

3y↑6

He is there waiting for you

Mikey Ednie

3y↑4

Everytime I hear this song I close my eyes and am back in my dad's livingroom then the song ends I realise my dad is still gone but definitely not forgotten rip Ali Ednie x

peerenboom77

19w↑3

There's something about this video that really feels organic and real. It reminds me of that era perfectly. I think this is their best video. The band look like they are having fun. The girls dancing look like they are having fun. It's pure joy, but it makes me sad (I'm just wanting my youth back, or, at least, to experience times like these once again). Anyway, over the years, I have really come the conclusion the R.E.M. was the best band ever. They did serious songs, bubblegum songs, rock songs, country songs, happy songs, sad songs, etc. R.E.M. had more diversity and differing emotional states on one album than most band's had their entire careers. The band was magical. Lately, I've even grown to really like the post-Berry stuff, which I was always lukewarm to. I miss them. Of course, the music will always be here, but I think you know what I mean.

Phantom04

3y↑9

This album reminds me of my childhood. In a way, it IS my childhood. My dad had this CD, and he'd always play it while we were playing or working on cars or whatnot... this album feels like home to me. I love the entirety of it. It's amazing how our minds link music and time periods in our lives.

reladjoe

8y↑163

I've always loved the layers of background vocals and harmonies on this tune. Its an audio orgasm!

uneven

25w

Gross

tonyttt31

2y↑2

4 layers in the middle 8. Gorgeous.

Vernon Lingenfelter

3y↑3

That's the deal, they were Very good. That's why we want them back. Talent just oozing out of most song's. No problem for them. That's why Kate participated. Kinda like o boy. Of course. Sure wish I had made the effort to see them many times. Nobody will ever make this stuff again.

John Pelletier

5y↑1

Sheer beauty. And, yes, Mike always brings a contrast to the lead singing duties, along with his peerless backup work. Have always love his and Michael's contrasting vocals.

Dennis Osborne

6y↑222

You can really hear the influence of the Byrds and the Beach Boys in REM. Great Band

Steven Groom

2y↑2

Mike Mills and Bill Berry would cruise around singing harmony on Beach Boys songs before they met Peter Buck and Michael Stipe. You can really hear that on this song for sure.

Mikey Ednie

3y↑2

@John Willoughby spot on

John Willoughby

4y↑5

It's when Mike Mills take the lead on vocals it comes through strongest. See also Superman from Lifes Rich Pageant for more Beach Boys influences.

Miglior Store

True. But appeasement policy was erased just few hours ago. So, it's no more question of who made who.

Dennis Osborne

4y↑4

yeh I said Byrds and the Beach Boys

10 More Replies...

Dave Southwick

2y↑1

The lyrics of most of Murmur remain cryptic, but always convey a strong mood. I haven't been smoking anything because I don't have any right now, but don't need to be trashed to enjoy this. To me, the essence of this song is liquidity: Peter Buck's acoustic powerchording emulating a breaking wave & subsequent immaculate picking sounding like the foam trickling through the pebbles thereafter. Mike Mill's pulsing bass & Bill Berry's precise beats beautifully underpin the song, especially Bill's bone dry rimshots jumpstarting the chorus. One of the most musically & emotionally complete rock songs ever produced, lyrical obliqueness notwithstanding.

j s

4y↑3

Got a real summery vibe from this song. Pure joy

Dennis Osborne

5y↑30

There are some songs that you never tire of hearing and some songs that lift your spirits - this does both for me .Love the band and this is my favourite track of theirs

Maria Pratiwi

7y↑75

The worst thing is when you have a song stuck in your head for days but you only remember one line.. feelin inside, feelin inside .. on and on in my head! This song has incantation

Maria Pratiwi

3y↑2

@HB yes. that's the lyric :D

HB

3y↑4

I'm not sure if this is just me but I hear "living inside". I'm pretty sure that that is the lyrics.

Pavel Rakyta

4y↑10

This is by far the best REM song. Out of time is their best album for me.

pocket83²

1y↑17

30+ year R.E.M. listener here.
Ever notice that the best Beatles' songs are the ones where John and Paul both sing—until it sort of all blends together—and you forget who's who as you listen? Why is that so good?

Because those ones are just too genuine to fake; when the spotlight gets shared, it can become a perfectly harmonious collaboration in which ego drops away for just long enough to make it seem only about the music. When there's no clear indication of who's standing in front, it just feels so much more... genuine. It becomes bigger than any one of them. At least for me, charisma, presentation, personality, and showmanship all take a backseat to how I really enjoy music: it just comes down to the sound itself. Still, I guess the occasional Janis Joplin does knock it passionately out of the park though. Lightning does strike!

Back on topic: this song feels so free of pretense that it's exquisite. It manages to transcend both category and style enough to make its own unique mark. When I listen, I hear a flawless convergence of sadness and optimism that captures these performers at their peak. To use the word again, it's them at their most genuine. After countless listen-throughs of their numerous albums, "Near Wild Heaven" remains as one of my all-time favorites. Beautiful song.

Junior Luiz Ienerich

49w↑1

Baita música, espero que não se perca com o tempo

Augusto MH

11y↑5

Thanks REM for your great songs, I grew up listening your music and felt touched a lot of times. One of the best bands of all times. Thank you, from Mexico.

Saf

49w↑3

❤Never get bored of this song.

Gil Mayer

2y↑7

30 years ago today, on 12.03.1991, REM released their masterpiece album "Out of Time" 🎙🎸🙏
.
It is a brilliant and beautiful album which is part of the golden era of the band - a year later they released another masterpiece album which we all know as "Automatic for the People".
.
In the album there are several of REM's classics such as: Near Wild Heaven, Radio Song, Shiny Happy People, Belong, Country Feedback, Endgame and of course the biggest hit from the album Losing My Religion.
.
Out of time is personally one of my favourite albums which represents a beautiful era in our lives and a unique period in our world 🙏🎙🎼🎸❤

Ernesto Marquez

4y↑5

Que canción!... perfección de voces y ritmo. Y esa guitarra.... uffffff...

Paul Bish

8y↑21

Just shows how transcendental pop music can be...Heaven!

Bon Confidant

5y↑2

You sir have just uttered a sublime and often unheralded truth. Very well stated, thank you.

Shannon Noname in i love cats

3y↑2

This is the sort of song that you play after feeling depressed and want to cheer up. It has worked for me for years ✌️🕊️☺️

Desert Rain

13y↑1

Wow, for some odd reason I had this song swimming in my head for forever and I'd not heard it in years, had no idea there was a video for it. Well written lyrics, and catchy beat. Love this song, I agree with those who say it's an unrecognized classic.

Edward Dawn

2y↑2

The world doesn’t deserve a song as perfect as this...

Mark Lewis

1y↑5

This is one of my favorite songs and videos ever! I wish I could live inside this video forever, then I would be Near Wild Heaven!

daveyusa

1y↑1

Fantastic song.....a great time to be alive. And not a cell phone in sight :)

Al

25w↑4

What a truly beautiful song this is. Thank you REM.

Christopher Howe

very underrated song, it's one of their best

moppklikk

12y

One of the best REM songs without a doubt.

John Feehan

One of my absolute faves! Love Mike on the vocals 😊

johndickson76

44w↑4

Mick Mills has a warm and sunny sounding voice. Can’t think of any other way to describe it.

Dennis Osborne

Some songs make you feel happy no matter how many times you hear them … like this

Lord London

4y↑2

Incredible song. So underrated.

Shane Tulk

2y↑16

One of the greatest bands ever.

Reginaldo Moreira

8y↑3

Música linda! Amo essa música!

Jon A

32w↑2

Everyone seems to think this is a happy song but I feel it is bitter sweet. It's about a relationship that's kind of on its last legs. "There's a feeling that's going. Something has gone wrong. In this near wild heaven. Not near enough". It reminds me of my wife when the marriage started to go wrong. Getting divorced this year.

Jeremy Mitchell

6y↑17

This is my current favorite REM song. Out of Time was such a wonderful album and got me and a couple of my brothers out of listening to metal/progressive/guitar hero rock in the early 90s. Anyways, the two women dancing in this video are gorgeous!

Rhonda Sampsel

1y↑1

I love Mike Mills voice just sweet.

Joshua

12y

When I listen to this song, or any REM for that mater, I'm near the wild heavens. REM for ever and ever.

Miguel Ornelas

2y↑4

Fogo, já me tinha esquecido desta obra de arte... há muitos anos que não a ouvia. LINDA!!

nitram

What a beautiful song!💫💛.discovering it 30 years later 😁

Arlequina Sincera

2y↑8

Awesome song

Henrique Amaral

10y↑3

R.E.M é um das poucas bandas que eu consigo me identificar...

DerAlmighty

11y

The vocals on this song are just amazing. Stipe, Mills, and Kate just going at it.

carlo augusto corrali

Mi canción favorita de REM

David Castro

5y↑72

bingoace

13y

I love this song, makes me so happy. Best song on album

Eric Says

3y↑4

Very beautiful song that lifts my spirits during this time of trial

Hensler Da Fonseca

5y↑3

Grande a musica, faz me lembrar o meu passado,ela foi lançada em 1991 a partir deste ano comecei gostar desta excelente banda de rock

betwes

13y↑1

My favorite on the album. Very catchy chorus. Great band!!

jose ramos

4y↑5

Out of time é o álbum mais foda que já foi produzido muito do caralho

The Music ♪

47w

I love R.E.M. ❤️️❤️️❤️️...they were so talented, too bad they have broken up now & are no longer together to give us even more great music.😢

Ken Vail

6y↑33

Their all-time best song I think -- it's been in my head for days.

Joshua

13y

I have to say that I would buy a whole CD of Mike Mills singing. He is really good, could have wnet solo and I would have been a fan.

Pedro D' Lara

4y↑4

uma das melhores musicas da banda, mas infelizmente nunca tocada ao vivo

BorderShader

The layering of the vocals is exquisite. At its peak I count 12 voices (ba-ba-ba-bas, ooh-ee-oohs, the chiming of the near-wild-heavens) - can't ever decide! This entire song is just totally perfect.

D C

6y↑1

Michael and Mike vocals are near heavenly!

Rhonda Sampsel

1y↑3

These guys have tunes that just being a person alive thirty years old.I am happy that I was part of this time

gorizianopiratissimo

13y↑1

An underrated REM classic

Joshua

12y

Mike Mills should release his own solo album, his voice is great.

Gean Filipe Moura

36w↑3

Essa música causa uma nostalgia imensa, cara eu sou novo e amo essa música amo a harmonia que ela causa um sentimento bom, só agradecer 🤲🏻

Gary Cook

12y

Thanks REM. You defined my childhood. Much love and good luck. Peace and light.

Fede Dylan

11y

wow, pure innocence, inmortalized. I love this song since I listened to it in my vacations in argentina in '92 when I was 12. But thanks to youtube finally I discovered there was a video of it.

MickeyJHorner

2y↑3

The key changes and melody of this song are sent straight from heaven 😇

Jake Guitar Zone

Impossible to be anything other than happy when this song comes on

Anderson Barreiros

6y↑6

Amo REM demais. Sou fanzaço. E essa música é top das tops. Linda.

Jefferson Moreira Vargas

3y↑4

Essa banda sempre fez parte da minha vida

Rocco Casciani

12y

Brings back memories. I'll always thank my Dad for choosing R.E.M. (along with other great artists) as the soundtrack of our life... :)

Harry Ayres

12y

I swear I could cry for the beauty of this song, for the emotions it revives, for the dreams it breathes life back into.

kent

I’ve listened to this song for 32 years & I never knew they made a MV for this song

Thank you YouTube

Jean-Baptiste

2y↑16

REM had the ability to be the Papas and the Mamas, the Beach boys, Genesis, Oasis, Blur, and so many others. Every song was different from anything before.

Squirrel Attackspidy

2y↑3

Love this song. Reminds me of drive through the countryside in the summer. Windows down and wind blowing through. And this song playing.

Zico Medze

1y↑3

Perfect Song perfect band greetings from the Netherlands

Patricia Mares

I love it. great band! great album! great song!

John Riggs

11y

What a great song. I was in high school when this came out. I burned up my cassette tape of "Out of Time". I wish more music like this was made today.

wiisalute

REM is one of my top 5 favorite bands. Stipe is such a unique singer to me. Makes me want to keep practicing piano and learn this song

Nic Colangelo

Great song with meaning , not like today’s rubbish that’s released , great band

Glenn in Australia

3y↑3

Hearing MIke leading vocals, and Michael backing up like Mike usually does, and with such interesting lyrics & nice sound. Great song

Joe DuRant

7y↑47

Love this song, especially Mike Mills' vocal and bass. Rem channels the Beach Boys, and shows you
they don't all need to be California girls.

Spartan

5y↑2

Joe DuRant The Beach Boys themselves were definitely not all California Girls

A Fischer

This was my driving song; happy music with the kids in the car. Always made me feel like if I drove just a little faster I'd lift off.... Great memories.