R.E.M. vs Newt and his '94 GOP goons — "Revolution"

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Run time: 03:07 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CFFxy590Og   Posted on YouTube: January 23, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheBullot Views on YouTube: 1210   Posted on DU: September 22, 2011 By DU Member: Adenoid_Hynkel Views on DU: 402

 
Little did I know when I posted "Ignoreland" here last night that the band would break up the next day.

This one's a particularly overlooked gem - I first heard it when debuted during the '95 tour for "Monster" and recorded live for the album "New Adventures in Hi-Fi." It got cut from the LP at the last minute, and eventually ended up on the soundtrack to a Batman film and an R.E.M. rarities disc.

It was Stipe's reaction to the GOP takeover of Congress. I always thought the lyric "the future never happened" perfectly captures the feeling when rightwing, regressive forces triumph over democracy and progress.

----
Your revolution is a silly idea, yeah
All your friends are feeling sad
It's like you need a reason to be feeling bad, yeah
You sport an armband when your good and mad, yeah

La, la, la, la revolution (the future never happened)
La, la, la, la revolution

I don't know why I'm feeling bad, yeah
I picked up a bad vibration
Oliver North is running for Senate
Bomb the abortion clinic
Reagan's defense is the deficit
The virus was invented
Black man can't get acquitted
Of the crimes that we committed
The future never happened, it never happened
---
So long, lads - I miss you already.