Auctioneer (Another Engine)
R.E.M. · Fables Of The Reconstruction
Get me to the train on time, here take this nickel make a dime
Take this penny and make it into a necklace when I leave
What is at the other end, I don't know another friend
Another wife, another morning spent
Listen, listen to the auctioneer. Another engine, another engine.
We never wrote the reasons that I need explained
Some things are givens, and others get away
This time its for myself you call it what you may
Okay, we won't say goodbye so long, so much more
Listen to the auctioneer. Another engine, another engine.
Listen to the bargain holler. Listen to the barter holler.
Listen to the auctioneer.
Get me to the train on time here take this nickel make a dime
Take this penny and make it into a necklace when I leave
What is at the other end, and I don't know another friend
Another wife, another morning spent
Listen, listen to the auctioneer. Another engine, another engine.
Another engine, another engine. Another...
Do I stand the bargain holler? Listen to the barter holler.
Auctioneer (Another Engine)
Released on R.E.M.'s 1992 album Fables Of The Reconstruction, "Auctioneer (Another Engine)" stands as a defining track of the band's late-period sound. The song features a distinctive, driving rhythm section that contrasts with Peter Gabriel's haunting vocal delivery, creating a tension between mechanical precision and organic emotion. This recording marks a significant shift in the group's musical direction, moving away from their earlier indie-rock roots toward a more polished, synth-infused pop-rock style that would characterize their final studio works. The track exemplifies the collaborative energy of the era, blending atmospheric textures with a relentless groove that became a staple of their live performances and a touchstone for alternative rock fans of the early 1990s.