Mr. Richards - R.E.M.

Mr. Richards, your position

Is a messenger pigeon

Left behind you when the camp moved on

We thought that you would listen

But the words had never crystallized

Into a truth that you might own, hey hey

Mr. Richards, your decision

Pay attention, pay attention

Mr. Richards, you’re forgiven

For a narrow lack of vision

But the fires are still raging on

The public’s got opinions

And these consequences border on

The compound that you razed

Where zealots sang, hey hey

Mr. Richards, your decision

Pay attention, pay attention

So listen, your intention;

Sign the papers, stamp the ribbon

You’re mistaken if you think we’ll just forget

You can thump your chest and rattle

Stand in front of your piano

But we know what’s going on

Yes we know what’s going on

We’re the children of the choir, hey

And we know what’s going on

Mr. Richards, your conviction

Had us cheering in the kitchen

Now the jury’s eating pigeon pie

So tell me how is prison?

Have they taught you how to listen?

We’ve begun to bridge the schism

Pay attention, pay attention

Mr. Richards, your decision

Pay attention, pay attention

You can thump your chest and rattle

Stand in front of your piano

But we know what’s going on

Yes we know what’s going on

We’re the children of the choir, hey

From the compound fire, hey

And we know what’s going on

Yes we know what’s going on