Strange
R.E.M. Lyrics
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When I call on the telephone
And I don't know what you mean to me
But I want to turn you on
Turn you up, figure you out
I want to take you on
These words, you will be mine
Now fool might be my middle name
But I'd be foolish not to say
I'm going to make whatever it takes
Ring you up, call you down, sign your name
Secret love, make it rhyme
Take you in and make you mine
These words, you will be mine
These words, you will be mine, all the time
I tripped and fell, did I fall
What I want to feel
I want to feel it now
You know with love comes strange currencies
And here is my appeal
I need a chance, a second chance, a third chance
A fourth chance, a word, a signal
A nod, a little breath
Just to fool myself, to catch myself
And make it real, real
These words, you will be mine
These words, you will be mine, all the time
These words, you will be mine
These words haunt me, hunt me down, catch in my throat
Make me pray, to say love's confines, oh
In the song "Strange" by R.E.M., the singer expresses confusion and a desire for connection with the person they are addressing. The opening lines paint a picture of frustration, as the singer can't understand why the other person is being mean to them on the phone. Despite this, however, the singer still wants to pursue the person and "turn them on." The lyrics suggest a kind of desperation, with the singer willing to do whatever it takes to win this person over, even if it means being foolish or making mistakes.
The chorus drives this point home, with the repetition of the phrase "These words, you will be mine" emphasizing the singer's persistence. The following lines reinforce this idea, with the singer stating that they need a second, third, or fourth chance to make things work. The final lines of the song shift towards introspection, with the singer acknowledging the strange currencies of love and expressing a desire to make their feelings real.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know why you're mean to me
I don't understand the reason for your hostility towards me
When I call on the telephone
Whenever I try to reach you through the phone
And I don't know what you mean to me
I'm uncertain about how I feel for you
But I want to turn you on
I want to excite and interest you
Turn you up, figure you out
I want to make you feel good and understand you better
I want to take you on
I want to have a romantic relationship with you
These words, you will be mine
These words act as a promise to make you mine
These words, you will be mine, all the time
These words reiterate the declaration to have you by my side always
Now fool might be my middle name
I could be perceived as foolish or silly
But I'd be foolish not to say
However, I would be even more idiotic if I didn't speak up
I'm going to make whatever it takes
I'm willing to do anything necessary to win your affection
Ring you up, call you down, sign your name
I will communicate with you no matter what mood you're in and get you to commit to me officially
Secret love, make it rhyme
I want to hide our relationship but also make it feel poetic and romantic
Take you in and make you mine
I desire to have complete possession over you
I tripped and fell, did I fall
I unknowingly fell into love, or did I deliberately fall into it?
What I want to feel
I crave to experience the intense sensations of love
I want to feel it now
I desire to feel those emotions immediately
You know with love comes strange currencies
When love is involved, peculiar and unexpected actions might be taken
And here is my appeal
Therefore, I request or implore something from you
I need a chance, a second chance, a third chance
I request several opportunities to prove my worth and the sincerity of my feelings
A fourth chance, a word, a signal
I would even ask for a fourth chance, a sign or message of some sort
A nod, a little breath
A simple gesture, even a breath can serve as a signal
Just to fool myself, to catch myself
I just want to deceive myself into thinking that there's a chance between us
And make it real, real
And hopefully, that deception will become a beautiful reality
These words, you will be mine
The earlier promise remains valid, you will be mine
These words haunt me, hunt me down, catch in my throat
These words keep me restless and emotionally overwhelmed
Make me pray, to say love's confines, oh
These words prompt me to pray and accept the limitations of love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind