"Texarkana" is a song from R.E.M.'s studio album "Out of Time". Though not … Read Full Bio ↴"Texarkana" is a song from R.E.M.'s studio album "Out of Time". Though not released as an official single, it managed to chart at number 4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 6 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. This song was written, musically and lyrically, by bassist Mike Mills (credited to Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe), as vocalist Michael Stipe had been having problems for weeks trying to come up with lyrics for it. As a result, Mills also sang lead vocals.

The title is a reference to the city of Texarkana (located on the border of Texas and Arkansas), originally mentioned in the chorus before it was changed. As heard on the "Outtakes of Time" bootleg as well as the "Out of Time" 25th Anniversary edition, Stipe's original chorus was "When I'm out in Texarkana / where's that county line / another county line."

Texarkana
R.E.M. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Twenty-thousand miles to an oasis
Twenty-thousand years will I burn
Twenty-thousand chances I've wasted
Waiting for the moment to turn

I would give my life to find it
I would give it all
Catch me if I fall

Walking through the woods, I have faced it
Looking for something to learn
Forty-thousand thoughts have been wasted
Never in my time to return

I would give my life to find it
I would give it all
Catch me if I fall

All my life
Waiting to find

Forty-thousand stars in the evening
Look at them fall from the sky
Forty-thousand reasons for living
Forty-thousand tears in your eyes

I would give my life to find it
I would give it all
Catch me if I fall

Catch me if I fall
Catch me if I fall
Catch me if I fall, catch me if I fall
Catch me if I fall, catch me if I fall

Catch me if I fall, catch me if I fall
Catch me if I fall

Overall Meaning

The song "Texarkana" by R.E.M. was released in 1991 and has been interpreted in many different ways by music fans since then. The lyrics are open to interpretation and there could be many different meanings behind them. At the surface level, it talks about someone who is searching for something that they have lost or never had. They are willing to sacrifice everything to find it and are looking for some kind of revelation or epiphany that will help them feel more alive.

The first verse talks about how far the person is willing to go to find what they are looking for: "Twenty-thousand miles to an oasis / Twenty-thousand years will I burn / Twenty-thousand chances I've wasted / Waiting for the moment to turn". The second verse talks about how much effort they have put into their search: "Walking through the woods, I have faced it / Looking for something to learn / Forty-thousand thoughts have been wasted / Never in my time to return". The chorus repeats the sentiment that they are willing to give everything to find what they are looking for: "I would give my life to find it / I would give it all / Catch me if I fall".

The final verse brings in the idea of love and heartbreak: "Forty-thousand stars in the evening / Look at them fall from the sky / Forty-thousand reasons for living / Forty-thousand tears in your eyes". This could be interpreted as the person searching for love and connection but being constantly disappointed, leading them back to their original search for meaning.

Overall, the song is a contemplative reflection on the human experience and the search for meaning and connection. The lyrics are open to interpretation and could have multiple meanings for different listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Twenty-thousand miles to an oasis
I am longing for a place of peace and beauty that is far away and difficult to reach.

Twenty-thousand years will I burn
I am willing to suffer for a very long time to achieve my goal, no matter what the cost.

Twenty-thousand chances I've wasted
I have had many opportunities to find what I am looking for, but I have let them slip away.

Waiting for the moment to turn
I am hoping for a turning point in my life when everything will change and I will finally find what I am seeking.

Walking through the woods, I have faced it
I have confronted many challenges and obstacles in my search for my oasis.

Looking for something to learn
I am open to gaining wisdom and knowledge from my experiences on this journey.

Forty-thousand thoughts have been wasted
I have spent a lot of time and energy thinking about things that have not helped me in my search.

Never in my time to return
I cannot go back in time to change my past mistakes or missed opportunities.

Forty-thousand stars in the evening
There are many beautiful and awe-inspiring things in the world that I can appreciate along my journey.

Look at them fall from the sky
I am reminded of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.

Forty-thousand reasons for living
There are many things that make life worth living, even if I have not yet found my ultimate goal.

Forty-thousand tears in your eyes
I am empathizing with the struggles and sorrows of others, who may also be seeking their own 'oasis'.

Catch me if I fall
I am asking for support and help from others who may be able to guide me or catch me if I stumble.

All my life Waiting to find
My whole existence up to this point has been spent in this search for my oasis.

I would give my life to find it I would give it all
I am willing to sacrifice everything I have, including my own life, to achieve my goal.

Catch me if I fall, catch me if I fall Catch me if I fall, catch me if I fall Catch me if I fall, catch me if I fall Catch me if I fall
Repeating this line emphasizes the importance of having support and help from others, and my fear of failing or falling short on this journey.

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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