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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
R.E.M.
R.E.M.
Performer
Bill Berry
Bill Berry
Drums
Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Guitar
Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
Vocals
Mike Mills
Mike Mills
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Bill Berry
Bill Berry
Songwriter
Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Composer
Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
Composer
Mike Mills
Mike Mills
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
R.E.M.
R.E.M.
Producer
Scott Litt
Scott Litt
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Blood from a stone, water from wine
Born under an ill-placed sign
A stroke of bad luck, wrong place, wrong time
This flyer is out of line
[Chorus]
The story is a sad one, told many times
The story of my life in trying times
Just add water, stir in lime
How the west was won and where it got us, ah
[Instrumental]
The canary got trapped in the uranium mine
A stroke of bad luck, now the bird has died
A marker to mark where my tears run dry
I cross it, bless it, alkaline
[Chorus]
The story is a sad one, told many times
The story of my life in trying times
Just add water, stir in lime
How the west was won and where it got us, ah
[Instrumental]
I didn't wear glasses 'cause I thought it might rain
Now I can't see anything
I made a mistake, chalked it up to design
I cracked through time-space, godless and dry
I point my nose to the northern star
And watch the decline from a hazy distance
[Chorus]
The story is a sad one, told many times
The story of my life in trying times
Just add water, stir in lime
How the west was won and where it got us, ah
Written by: Bill Berry, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Peter Buck
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