Undertow
R.E.M. Lyrics


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I know what I wanted
I know what I wanted
I know how I wanted this to be

You go down to the water
Drink down of the water
Walk up off the water, leave it be
This is not my time, sister
It is cold in heaven
And I'm not sprouting wings

I'm drowning
Me
I'm drowning
Me, yeah

Brother can you see those birds?
They don't look to heaven
They don't need religion, they can see

They go down to the water
Drink down on the water
Fly up off the water, leave it be

This is not my time, sister
It is cold in heaven
And no one's coming after me

I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah

You know I am tired
Cold and bony tired
Nothing's gonna save me, I can see

I can't say I'm fearful
I can't say I'm not afraid
But I am not resisting, I can see

I don't need a heaven
I don't need religion
I am in the place where I should be

I am breathing water
I am breathing water
You know a body's got to breathe

I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah

I'm drowning
Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah
Breathing ourselves
I'm drowning




Breathing ourselves
Me, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song Undertow by R.E.M. is a haunting and introspective song that touches on themes of death and existentialism. The songwriter grapples with these themes through a beautiful metaphorical description of drowning. Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation to the inevitability of death, but also a willingness to accept it as a part of the natural order of things.


The opening lines of the song ("I know what I wanted, I know how I wanted this to be") suggest a sense of regret or disappointment with the way things have turned out for the songwriter. However, the following lines indicate that there is no use in dwelling on these feelings, and that it is time to move on ("You go down to the water, drink down of the water, walk up off the water, leave it be").


The repeated refrain of "I'm drowning" creates a sense of helplessness and finality, and the contrast between the drowning individual and the birds who are able to fly up from the water suggest a desire to transcend the limitations of the physical world.


Overall, Undertow is a powerful and thought-provoking song that offers a compelling meditation on the ultimate questions of life and death.



Line by Line Meaning

I know what I wanted
I had a clear vision of what I desired


You go down to the water
You approach the water body


Drink down of the water
You consume the water present there


This is not my time, sister
I feel like it's not the right time for me, sis


And I'm not sprouting wings
I'm not turning into an angel


I'm drowning
I'm struggling to breathe underwater


Brother can you see those birds?
Bro, do you notice those birds over there?


They don't look to heaven
Those birds don't search for the divine


They don't need religion, they can see
They don't require faith to understand


This is not my time, sister
Once again, I don't feel like it's the right moment for me, sis


And no one's coming after me
No one's seeking me out or pursuing me


Breathing ourselves
We're inhaling water


You know I am tired
You're aware that I'm exhausted


Nothing's gonna save me, I can see
I realize that there's no rescue for me


But I am not resisting, I can see
However, I'm not fighting against my situation


I don't need a heaven
I'm not requiring a celestial afterlife


I don't need religion
Nor am I dependent on faith and dogma


I am breathing water
I'm inhaling water to keep myself alive


You know a body's got to breathe
It's essential for a human body to breathe in order to exist


Me, yeah
I'm the one going through this ordeal




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Metal DNA

Everything they do is pure magic

L Stewart

Their artistry is magnificent. Extraordinary musicians.

miles harris

Sick song. Most underrated album of all time

Mindy Shively

I was ordained as a Buddhist nun a week ago, for some reason...this is the song that most fully embodies how I feel...I feel free...liberated from conventional ways of being. Outside of religion and yet somehow fully within the wide open space of life...dead to the old, drowned...reborn to something I can't yet explain

On Sight

Brother can't you see the birds ?

lmw_blue

Lmao, I pity you.

1 More Replies...

MARTIAL DOMINIQUE

I discovered you recently , I love your music , your are great R.E.M

Mazé Domingues

🥰

Void 00

They are my favorite band. 31 years of great music

Denise Freitas

Great song! Amazing album.

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