Leave
R.E.M. & Thom Yorke Lyrics
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Nothing could be bring me near
Where is the road I follow
To leave, leave?
It's under, under, under my feet
The sea spread out there before me
Where do I go when the land touches sea?
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me down
To leave, believe it
Leave it all behind
Shifting the dream
Nothing could bring me further
From my old friend time
Shifting the dream
It's charging the scene
I know where I marked the signs
I suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I like it like that and I know it
I know it well, ugly and sweet
That temper madness with an even extreme
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me down
I say that I'm a bantam lightweight
I say that I'm a phantom airplane
That never left the ground
Lift my hands, my eyes are still
I'll walk into the sea
Lift myself a different place
Just leave it
I've longed for this to take me
I've longed for my release
I've waited for the callin'
To leave
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me down
To leave, believe it
Leave it all behind
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me down
To leave, believe it
Leave it all behind
Leave, leavin'
Leave, leave, leave
Leave, leave, leavin'
Leave, leave, leave
The lyrics of "Leave" by R.E.M. and Thom Yorke can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but the overall theme seems to be one of escape and release. The song describes a desire to leave behind the constraints of everyday life and find a new sense of freedom in the unknown. The singer is searching for a path to follow and a way to be closer to this sense of liberation, which he believes is waiting for him beyond the sea.
The line "nothing could be bring me closer, nothing could be bring me near" implies that the singer has tried many different paths but still feels distant from his goal. However, he believes that his trust in his own beliefs is what keeps him grounded and focused on finding a way to escape. He speaks of "shifting the dream," suggesting that he is willing to change his perspective or take risks to achieve his goal.
The second verse hints at the idea of madness or chaos, and the desire to find beauty and meaning within it. The lines "I suffer the dreams of a world gone mad, I like it like that and I know it" suggest a willingness to embrace the unknown and find solace in the chaos. The repetition of the phrase "that's what keeps me down" throughout the song could be interpreted as a reminder that our beliefs, fears, and desires can both ground us and hold us back.
Overall, "Leave" is a song about escape and the desire to find something beyond the limitations of our everyday lives. It's about taking risks, trusting our beliefs, and finding beauty in the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing could be bring me closer
There is nothing that could bring me closer to where I want to be
Nothing could be bring me near
There is nothing that could bring me closer to where I want to be
Where is the road I follow
I am looking for the path that will take me where I want to go
To leave, leave?
How do I leave behind all that has been holding me back?
It's under, under, under my feet
The answers were right under my feet all along
The sea spread out there before me
It's a vast and unknown future that lays ahead of me
Where do I go when the land touches sea?
What will happen when I reach the final destination?
There is my trust in what I believe
I will rely on my beliefs to guide me
That's what keeps me
My beliefs are what give me strength and keep me going
That's what keeps me
My beliefs are what give me strength and keep me going
That's what keeps me down
My beliefs also limit me and keep me grounded
To leave, believe it
If I truly want to leave it all behind, I need to believe in myself
Leave it all behind
I need to leave behind everything that has been holding me back
Shifting the dream
I am changing my mind and setting a new goal
Nothing could bring me further
Nothing could stop me from moving forward
From my old friend time
Time can be my friend or my enemy depending on how I use it
It's charging the scene
This change is causing a stir in my life
I know where I marked the signs
I have been paying attention and know what I need to do
I suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I am troubled by things that are happening in the world
I like it like that and I know it
I am drawn to these troubling things, even though I know they're not good for me
I know it well, ugly and sweet
I am familiar with this feeling, both good and bad
That temper madness with an even extreme
I balance out these negative thoughts with extreme positive thoughts
I say that I'm a bantam lightweight
I try to downplay my own abilities or worth
I say that I'm a phantom airplane
I don't believe I can achieve my dreams, that they're just imaginary
That never left the ground
I feel like I have never been able to reach my goals or achieve anything
Lift my hands, my eyes are still
I am surrendering and letting go
I'll walk into the sea
I am ready to take the plunge and leave behind everything
Lift myself a different place
I am hoping to find a new and different life
Just leave it
I need to leave everything behind and move forward
I've longed for this to take me
I have been waiting for this change to happen
I've longed for my release
I have been wanting to break free and move on from my life
I've waited for the callin'
I have been waiting for the opportunity to arise
To leave
I need to leave behind everything holding me back
That's what keeps me
My beliefs and dreams are still what's driving me
That's what keeps me
My beliefs and dreams are still what's driving me
That's what keeps me down
My beliefs and dreams can also be burdensome and keep me from moving forward
Leave, leave, leave
I need to leave everything behind and move on with my life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@driver8M3
One of my favorite songs in their entire catalog.
@generaseven
This is my favorite song by a group...ever.
@seanfoxhall6761
Same 👌
@aristidescordeiro7198
agree with u freaks! love 🧡
@raphaelarbogast6699
all the same ^^ especially the version of the movie "A Life Less Ordinary" i love !!!
@saraht903
Same
@roygav
You knows you've spent a great deal of time with this wonderful album when the opening chords for "Departure" immediately starts playing in your head after this...
@hiraldosternflyer7112
I have that feeling with all their albums. :)
@alestipe
well said
@generaseven
So true. I've gone through five cds of this since 96. No joke.