The Outsiders

R.E.M. · Around The Sun

you took me to the restaurant where we first met.
you knocked a future shock crowbar upside my head.
I got caught with the stop of the tick tock, tick tock clock
when you told me what you knew.
lost in the moment, the day that the music stopped.
and I do remember you.

DRAWING PATTERNS WITH A CORK ON THE TABLECLOTH.
PROMISING VOLCANIC CHANGE OF PLOT.
WHERE WILL THIS LEAD US? I'M SCARED OF THE STORM.
THE OUTSIDERS ARE GATHERING. A NEW DAY IS BORN.

I tried to tell you I am not afraid
you looked up and saw it all across my face
so am I with you or am I against?
I don't think it's that easy, we're lost in regret.
now I'm trying to remember the feeling when the music stopped.
when you told me what you knew.
lost in the moment, the day that the music stopped.
and I do remember you.

DRAWING PATTERNS WITH A CORK ON THE TABLECLOTH.
PROMISING VOLCANIC CHANGE OF PLOT
WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US, I'M SCARED OF THE STORM.
THE OUTSIDERS ARE GATHERING, A NEW DAY IS BORN.

DRAWING PATTERNS WITH A CORK ON THE TABLECLOTH.
PROMISING VOLCANIC CHANGE OF THOUGHT
WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US? I'M SCARED OF THE STORM.
THE OUTSIDERS ARE GATHERING, A NEW DAY IS BORN.

THE OUTSIDERS ARE GATHERING, A NEW DAY IS BORN.
THE OUTSIDERS ARE GATHERING.

A man walks away. when every muscle says to stay.
how many yesterdays? they each weigh heavy.
who says what changes may come. who says what we call home.
I know you see right through me, my luminescence fades,
the dusk provides an antidote, I am not afraid.
I've been a million times, in my mind, and this is really just a technicality.
frailty. reality.

uh, It's time to breathe. Time to believe. Let it go and run towards the sea.
they don't teach that, they don't know what you mean.
they don't understand, they don't know what you mean.
they don't get it, I want to scream.
I want to breathe again, I want to dream.
I want to float a quote from Martin Luther King

I am not afraid I am not afraid I am not afraid
I AM NOT AFRAID I AM NOT AFRAID I AM NOT AFRAID I AM NOT AFRAID

The Outsiders - R.E.M.

Released on the 1991 album Around The Sun, "The Outsiders" stands as a defining track in the evolution of alternative rock. Written by Michael Stipe and Peter Buck, the song blends melodic guitar work with Stipe's distinctive vocal delivery to explore themes of alienation and the struggle to fit into societal norms. As a centerpiece of Around The Sun, it exemplifies the band's shift toward a more polished, radio-friendly sound while maintaining their introspective lyrical depth. The track remains a staple of the late 80s and early 90s indie scene, influencing countless artists who sought to merge pop sensibilities with indie credibility. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal resonance regarding the feeling of being an outsider, making it a timeless addition to the R.E.M. catalogue.