Leave
REM (R.E.M.) 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
"Leave" by R.E.M. is a song that speaks to the desire to escape from the mundane and leave everything behind. The opening lines of the song, "Nothing could be bring me closer, Nothing could be bring me near," suggest that the singer is seeking something more than what is currently in their life. They question where they need to go to leave it all behind and start anew. The sea is presented as a possible escape route, and the lyrics suggest that the singer believes in the power of their own beliefs to guide them.
The overall sentiment in the song is one of dissatisfaction and unrest. The singer is looking for something more and feels constrained by their current situation. The repetition of the phrase "that's what keeps me down" throughout the song reinforces this theme. The lyrics suggest that the only way to find peace is to leave everything behind and start anew.
The chorus of the song, "To leave, believe it, Leave it all behind," expresses the idea that leaving behind what is familiar is a necessary step in finding inner peace. The verses and the bridge suggest that the singer is looking for a way to escape and that they believe in their own ability to chart their own course.
Overall, "Leave" by R.E.M. is a song that speaks to the universal desire for change and the search for inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing could be bring me closer
There is nothing in this world that could bring me closer to where I want to be.
Nothing could be bring me near
No matter what happens, I will never be close to what I want.
Where is the road I follow
I don't know which direction to take to find what I'm looking for.
To leave, leave?
Should I leave everything behind and start anew?
It's under, under, under my feet
The answer is right beneath me, but I can't seem to find it.
The sea spread out there before me
There is a vast world waiting for me to explore.
Where do I go when the land touches sea?
What happens when my journey takes me to the edge of the earth and the sea?
There is my trust in what I believe
I must trust in my beliefs to guide me.
That's what keeps me
My beliefs are what keep me grounded.
To leave, believe it
I must believe in the power of leaving things behind.
Leave it all behind
I must leave everything behind and start anew.
Shifting the dream
I am changing my focus and my perspective.
Nothing could bring me further
No setbacks or obstacles can hold me back from my goal.
From my old friend time
I am leaving behind the things that have held me back in the past.
It's charging the scene
The atmosphere of my life is changing.
I know where I marked the signs
I am confident in the path I have chosen and the markers I have set.
I suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I am dealing with the stress and chaos of living in a tumultuous world.
I like it like that and I know it
I am accepting the craziness because it is what I know and I can handle it.
I know it well, ugly and sweet
I am intimately familiar with both the good and bad aspects of my life.
That temper madness with an even extreme
I balance out the madness of life with an evenness and stability.
I say that I'm a bantam lightweight
I see myself as strong and capable, despite my small size.
I say that I'm a phantom airplane
I feel like I am flying, even when I'm not physically moving.
That never left the ground
Despite my feeling of flight, I am still grounded in reality.
Lift my hands, my eyes are still
I am raising my hands in surrender to my journey.
I'll walk into the sea
I am willing to take the plunge and start a new journey.
Lift myself a different place
I will move to a different place emotionally and physically.
I've longed for this to take me
I have been waiting for something to push me forward.
I've longed for my release
I have wanted to break free from the things that have held me back in the past.
I've waited for the callin'
I am waiting for a sign or signal to start a new journey.
Leave, leavin'
I am leaving everything behind in pursuit of something new.
Leave, leave, leave
I am committed to leaving my past behind and starting over.
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.