Cover art for Falls to Climb by R.E.M.

Falls to Climb

R.E.M.
Track 14 on Up 

Producers

Oct. 26, 19981 viewer

Falls to Climb Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I'll take the position
Assume the missionary part
You work by committee
You had me pegged from the start
I'll be pounce pony
Phoney maroney
Pony before the cart
I'll be pounce pony
This ceremony
Only fills my heart

[Chorus]
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?


[Verse 2]
A punch toy volunteer
A weakling on its knee
Is all you want to hear
And all you want to see
Romantically, you'd martyr me
And miss this story's point

It is my strength, my destiny
This is the role that I have chosen
[Chorus]
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

[Verse 3]
Gentlemen mark your opponents
Fire into your own ranks
Pick the weakest as strategic move
Square off to meet your enemy
For each and every gathering
A scapegoat falls to climb
As I step forward, silently
Deliberately mine

[Chorus]
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me? Why not me?
Had consequence chose differently
Had fate its ugly head
My actions make me beautiful
And dignify the flesh
Me. I am free. Free

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Genius Annotation

a man takes the blame and accepts punishment for something he didn’t do as a way to give his life meaning. reminiscent of sydney carton in dickens' a tale of two cities

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Credits
Producers
Mastering Engineer
Recording Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Release Date
October 26, 1998
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