These Days
R.E.M. · Life's Rich Pageant [1986]
If I can, and I can. March into ocean, march into the sea
I had a hat I put it down and it sunk, reached down,
Yanked it up, slapped it on my head.
All the people gather
Fly to carry each his burden
We are young despite the years we are concern
We are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever....
I wish to meet each one of you
And you, me, you, if I can and I can
We have many things in common, name three (three, three, three)
I had a hat and it sunk, reached down,
Yanked it up, slapped it on my head.
All the people gather
Fly to carry each his burden
We are young despite the years we are concern
We are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go.
Now I'm not feeding off you I will rearrange your scales
If I can and I can I wish to eat each one of you and you, me, you
I had a hat and it sunk, reached down,
Yanked it up, slapped it on my head.
All the people gather
Fly to carry each his burden
We are young despite the years we are concern
We are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you...
Carry each his burden, we are young despite the years we are concern
We are hope despite the times
All of the sudden, these days
Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go.
(Take away the scattered bones of my meal).
These Days
R.E.M. recorded "These Days" for their 1986 album Life's Rich Pageant, a work that marked a significant shift toward a more polished, mainstream sound. The track serves as a cover of a classic originally written by Phil Ochs, reflecting the band's tendency to reinterpret folk and rock standards through their distinctive alternative lens. During this era, the group was refining the jangly guitar textures and enigmatic vocal delivery that would define their commercial success in the late 1980s. This recording captures the band at a pivotal moment, balancing their experimental roots with an increasing accessibility that would soon propel them to global prominence. The song remains a notable example of how R.E.M. integrated external influences into their own evolving discography.