Leave
RadioheadMichael Stipe Lyrics


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Nothing could be bring me closer
Nothing could be bring me near
Where is the road I follow?
Believing, leave

It's under, under, under my feet
The scene spread out there before me
Better I go where the land touches the sea
There is my trust in what I believe

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
To leave it, believe it,
Leave it all behind

Shifting the dream
Nothing could bring me further from my old friend time
Shifting the dream
Charging the scene
I know where I marked the signs
Suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I like it like that and I know it

I know it well, ugly and sweet
A temperament who said believe in his dream

That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me
That's what keeps me down
I set it on there lightly
I sent it off in an airplane
That never left the ground

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
To leave it, believe it,
Leave it all behind

Lift me, lift me,
I attain my dream
I lost myself, I lost them
Heartache calling me
I lost myself in sorrow
I lost myself in pain
I lost myself in gravity,
Memory, leave, leave, leave

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
To leave it, believe it,
Leave it all behind

That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me,
That's what keeps me down,
To leave it, believe it,
Leave it all behind

Midnight hands, my eyes are still
I walk into the scene
Shoot myself in a different place
Leavin'

Longed for this to take me,
Longed for my release
Waited for the coming
Leavin', leave

Leave, leave




Leavin', leavin'
Leavin', leave

Overall Meaning

The song "Leave" by Michael Stipe, the lead singer of R.E.M., is a contemplative track about leaving everything behind and believing in oneself, even if it means suffering and pain. In the first verse, Stipe is questioning where he should go and what he should believe in, but ultimately decides to "leave it all behind" and trust in his own convictions. He sets off on a journey where the land touches the sea, representing a sense of boundlessness and infinite possibilities.


The second verse embodies a more defiant and confident tone, as Stipe declares that he knows where he is headed and that he will follow his dreams despite the world being "gone mad." He describes this world as "ugly and sweet," acknowledging the immense pain that comes with it but also finding beauty in it.


The final verses speak about losing oneself and longing for release. Stipe seems to be in a state of discomfort and despair, but still holds onto his dreams and convictions, ultimately choosing to leave everything behind.


Line by Line Meaning

Nothing could be bring me closer
There is nothing that can make me feel any closer


Nothing could be bring me near
No matter what, I am not getting any nearer


Where is the road I follow?
I am confused about the path I am supposed to take


Believing, leave
I am choosing to leave while still holding onto my beliefs


It's under, under, under my feet
The road is right under my feet and I must keep moving forward


The scene spread out there before me
The world is spread out before me but I need to keep moving ahead


Better I go where the land touches the sea
It is better for me to go to a place where the land meets the ocean


There is my trust in what I believe
I trust in what I believe to guide me in my journey


That's what keeps me,
My beliefs and values are what keep me grounded


To leave it, believe it,
Despite leaving, I continue to hold onto my beliefs


Leave it all behind
I am leaving everything behind and starting anew


Shifting the dream
I am changing my perspective and my dreams


Nothing could bring me further from my old friend time
No matter what, I cannot bring back the past nor change time


Charging the scene
I am taking control of my life and moving forward with purpose


I know where I marked the signs
I know what signs to look for and what they mean


Suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I am overwhelmed by the crazy world in which we live and its dreams


I like it like that and I know it
I strangely like the madness of the world because I know it well


I know it well, ugly and sweet
I am familiar with both the positive and negative aspects of the world


A temperament who said believe in his dream
Someone with a strong will and beliefs stood up for their dreams


I set it on there lightly
I didn't put too much pressure on myself when creating or changing something


I sent it off in an airplane
I released my creation or change and let it go


That never left the ground
I later realized that what I created or changed was futile or didn't work


Lift me, lift me,
I am asking for help and support as I move forward


I attain my dream
I finally achieve my dream


I lost myself, I lost them
I not only lost myself but my relationships with others due to the changes I made


Heartache calling me
I am experiencing emotional pain and struggling to cope with it


I lost myself in sorrow
I am completely immersed in sadness and grief


I lost myself in pain
I am consumed by physical and emotional suffering


I lost myself in gravity
I am trapped in a cycle of negativity and can't seem to escape it


Memory, leave, leave, leave
I am trying to let go of my memories and move on


Leavin',
I am starting fresh and seeking a new beginning


Leave, leave
I am letting go of everything from my past and moving on


Leavin', leavin'
I am leaving everything behind and starting anew




Lyrics ยฉ Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL BERRY, PETER BUCK, MICHAEL MILLS, MICHAEL STIPE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@df4296

R.E.M. New Adventures in Hi-Fi expanded edition tracklist:



Disc 1 โ€“ Remastered Album
1. How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us
2. The Wake-Up Bomb
3. New Test Leper
4. Undertow
5. E-Bow the Letter
6. Leave
7. Departure
8. Bittersweet Me
9. Be Mine
10. Binky the Doormat
11. Zither
12. So Fast, So Numb
13. Low Desert
14. Electrolite



Disc 2 โ€“ B-Sides and Rarities
1. Tricycle
2. Departure
3. Wall of Death
4. Undertow (live)
5. Wichita Lineman
6. New Test Leper (live acoustic)
7. The Wake-Up Bomb (live)
8. Binky the Doormat (live)
9. King of Comedy (808 State Remix)
10. Be Mine (Mike on Bus version)
11. Love Is All Around
12. Sponge
13. Leave (Alternate Version)



All comments from YouTube:

@amjh4lah809

I remember first hearing the album version the day I bought the album, the day it came out. The first R.E.M. album that I bought, as a fan, as soon as it came out. It actually blew me away. And I remember my Dad hearing it and loving it and loving it, too. โค

@reillydon

Underrated album, underrated song!

@StratsRUs

Top top album

@reillydon

@@StratsRUs every track on it is a masterpiece

@Eluwilussit

Well, certainly this album was not as big as "Out of time" or "Automatic for the people" but still, it did quite well in sales and in charts, I checked... and millions of people love this album... R.e.m. is a huge band who made millions and millions of dollars... and I don't think "underrated" can apply to anything r.e.m.... If you want to call something "underrated" go find a great album that sold only a few hundred copies... there's lots and lots of stuff like that

@reillydon

@@Eluwilussit it is generally cited among fans and critics alike an underrated album as far as REM go! as it didnโ€™t sell as well but did chart here in the uk at number 1 also the singles from the album didnโ€™t chart or sell well but over all most agree the album is one of their best, just take one of 12 online topics on this being underrated Iโ€™ve found online in the last 20 minutes -

R.E.M. released their most underrated album. New Adventures In Hi-Fi came out in what was a slightly transitional period for R.E.M. They had achieved โ€˜biggest band in the worldโ€™ status with Out Of Time and Automatic For The People, the latter still regarded by many (myself included) as their absolute masterpiece (or one of them, at least). Commercially they were at the top of their game, selling millions of copies of each without even touring either album (apart from a few acoustic shows for Out Of Time, usually under the name Bingo Hand Job), critically, they were untouchable, with both albums being lauded as defining albums of the era.

@schnu44

This is my favorite track on NAIHF. If the original version was 90 seconds shorter I have to believe it would be a classic R.E.M. song

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@chrisward5043

his voice is just so good,loved this band since the 80s and this song is just haunting truly beautiful

@romolo72

T

@musicfan8253

Bring it on! 25th anniversary of my favorite REM album.

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