 Automatic For The People (1992) [ larger cover art ] |
Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
This here is the place where I will be staying
There isn't a number, you can call the pay phone
Let it ring a long, long, long, long time
If I don't pick up, hang up, call back, let it ring some more, oh
If I don't pick up, pick up
The sidewinder sleeps, sleeps, sleeps in a coil
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her, oh
There's scratches all around the coin slot
Like a heartbeat, baby trying to wake up
But this machine can only swallow money
You can't lay a patch by computer design
It's just a lot of stupid, stupid signs
Tell her
Tell her she can kiss my ass
Then laugh and say that you were only kidding
That way she'll know that it's really, really, really, really me, me
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her, oh
Baby, instant soup doesn't really grab me
Today I need something more sub-sub-sub-substantial
A can of beans or black-eyed peas, some Nescafe and ice
A candy bar, a falling star, or a reading from Doctor Seuss
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her, oh
The cat in the hat came back, wrecked a lot of havoc on the way
Always had a smile and a reason to pretend
But their world has flat backgrounds and little need to sleep but to dream
The sidewinder sleeps on his back
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
I can always sleep standing up, call me when you try to wake her, oh
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
I can always sleep standing up, call me when you try to wake her, oh
Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her
I can always sleep standing up, call me when you try to wake her
I can always sleep standing up, call me when you try to wake her
We've got to moogie, moogie, move on this one
| cochlear (Kauai, Hawaii) | Posted: Mar 13, 2008 - 20:36 Did he really say, "Tripped me out"??? Oh yeah. 1980.  |
| Brotherchaos1980 (St. Louis, MO) | Posted: Feb 11, 2008 - 10:45 Hinkamp wrote: this has all the elements I usually hate in a song but somehow it works... I can't understand what he's saying... WTF is the chorus "only jamaca?
"Call me when you try to wake her." Tripped me out when I found that one out. |
| Carl (The Summit City) | Posted: Feb 11, 2008 - 09:25 zipper wrote: I've never heard this.
Me, either, but that's not saying much as most of what I've heard here is for the first time. Like it. |
| Hinkamp (Planet Utah) | Posted: Feb 11, 2008 - 09:24 this has all the elements I usually hate in a song but somehow it works... I can't understand what he's saying... WTF is the chorus "only jamaca? |
| zaknafein (Kansas City, MO) | Posted: Feb 11, 2008 - 09:24 ajlept wrote: WHAT! No kidding. This IS the 90s to me. Automatic is one of the best musical works of the twentieth century IMO. |
| ajlept (Athens, GA) | Posted: Jan 10, 2008 - 22:08 zipper wrote: I've never heard this.
WHAT! |
| hippiechick (Weekendland) | Posted: Dec 10, 2007 - 12:38 My daughter and I had a special relationship with this song when she was young  |
| zipper | Posted: Dec 10, 2007 - 12:38 I've never heard this. |
| MonkeyPod (Florida) | Posted: Dec 10, 2007 - 12:36 TheKing2 wrote: This song is played to death. I cannot hear it anymore.
Why is it our fault that you listened to too much commercial radio? Get a CD/MP3 player! |
| TheKing2 (waving, not drowning) | Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 03:03 This song is played to death. I cannot hear it anymore. |
| horstman (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Oct 08, 2007 - 16:58 So . . . I play this game with my family (and anyone else stupid enough to tolerate me-very few,trust me). "Who is this playing on the radio, or the internet, or in the car, you get the idea"? It helps sharpen the mind to the unique sound and signature of artists. So my son comes in and asks "Is this Bob Dylan?". Not even close. One more chance sonny boy! "Ah, R.E.M.?" Exactomundo! Parenting is the best! Try it, you'll love it!!  |
| haljordan (right behind you...don't look though or I'll leave) | Posted: Oct 08, 2007 - 16:54 Yikes! No other song brings back so many conflicted college memories. Oh for a time machine... Present Me: "Past Me, run - run for your life." Past Me: "Huh?" Probably would just be a waste of time. |
| zaknafein (Kansas City, MO) | Posted: Sep 07, 2007 - 06:46 Automatic is simply a masterpiece. I'd love to hear Ignoreland. |
| RobK (Leucadia, CA) | Posted: Aug 06, 2007 - 22:38 physicsgenius wrote: REM could be so good if they got a new singer
I was about to make a scathing response to this comment, then I saw who made it and remembered there's a sort of de facto ban on replying to this guy's posts. Oh wait, dang it, got me again...  |
| (former member) (Shadow Valley Condos) | Posted: Aug 06, 2007 - 20:35 bookishbitty wrote: This makes me nostolgic for my childhood in the early 90s.
Ack. I remember my frantic dancing to the brand new song "Radio Free Europe." Man, Stipe's whiny voice just can't hit these stupid notes with these stupid words. |
| canadave (Ottawa, ON) | Posted: Jul 06, 2007 - 08:14 Trustocity wrote: There is good REM, average REM, and bad REM. This is above average but not good. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please stop playing bad and/or average REM and start playing good REM. You need me to tell you which is which? You run the eclectic radio station; figure it out!
If Automatic For the People is merely average R.E.M., then good R.E.M. most induce orgasm upon listening. |
| siandbeth (Santa Cruz California) | Posted: Jul 06, 2007 - 08:06 "some nescafe and ice" - ahh, memories of Greece where we had Nescafe everymorning. The best! |
| lathyris (Houston, TX) | Posted: Jul 06, 2007 - 08:06 And, I'm surprised that not every song on this album is in RP's playlist! What a shame. |
| bookishbitty (Connecticut) | Posted: Jul 06, 2007 - 08:04 This makes me nostolgic for my childhood in the early 90s. |
| lathyris (Houston, TX) | Posted: Jul 06, 2007 - 08:04 Yet another of the 12 reasons this is one of the best albums of the 90s. . .and all time, in my opinion. |
| prickelpit96 (Hannover, Germany) | Posted: Jun 05, 2007 - 00:16 yulia wrote: I love REM...
yes, normal. but there is much more better stuff than this 'sidewinder'-song at all.... |
| prickelpit96 (Hannover, Germany) | Posted: Jun 05, 2007 - 00:13 dmax wrote: 
really that bad?? |
| Kerly (Estonia) | Posted: Jun 05, 2007 - 00:13 A candy bar, a falling star, or a reading of doctor seuss Amazing. One of their best songs, really catchy  |
| (former member) (Too far from the bay of Funday) | Posted: Jun 05, 2007 - 00:13 Boosiewolf wrote: I love when you can hear Stipe chuckle just after he sings "...or a reading from Dr. Seuss."
Does he properly pronounce the man's name? ("Soyce") |
| (former member) (Too far from the bay of Funday) | Posted: Jun 05, 2007 - 00:12 |
| veegez (Minnesoter) | Posted: May 04, 2007 - 16:23 davin wrote: Thats what I thought too. But I just had a look at the lyrics. Whoa there's a story here: This here is the place I will be staying There isnt a number. you can call the pay phone Let it ring a long, long, long, long time If I dont pick up, hang up, call back, let it ring some more If I dont pick up, pick up. the sidewinder sleeps, sleeps, sleeps in a coil (chorus) Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her There are scratches all around the coin slot Like a heartbeat, baby, trying to wake up, But this machine can only swallow money You cant lay a patch by computer design Its just a lot of stupid, stupid signs Tell her, Tell her she can kiss my ass, then laugh and say that you were only kidding That way shell know that its really, really, really, really me, me (repeat chorus) Baby, instant soup doesnt really grab me Today I need something more sub-sub-sub-substantial A can of beans or blackeyed peas, some nescafe and ice, A candy bar, a falling star, or a reading of doctor seuss (repeat chorus) The cat in the hat came back, wrecked a lot of havoc on the way, Always had a smile and a reason to pretend But their world has flat backgrounds and little need to sleep but to dream The sidewinder sleeps on his back Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her I can always sleep standing up, call me when you try to wake her I like the above post way better than the "REM sucked after Document" cliches that preceded it. Love this song, and this album almost as much as Murmur. |
| lmic (Uniondale, NY) | Posted: May 04, 2007 - 14:53 blkstd wrote: I wonder how much REM was paid to do this song.
 |
| Viv515 (Calgary, Alberta) | Posted: May 04, 2007 - 14:52 timandjuliet wrote: Always thought it was Call me Jamaica. Yours makes more sense. In true Michael Stipe fashion, you can't understand a word he says -- although the in later album he got better. The lyrics on the CD say "Call me when you try to wake her up." No reference at all to Jamaica! :) |
| pomalley (Land of Lincoln) | Posted: May 04, 2007 - 14:50 Only chaw bacon? |
| davin (Victoria, British Columbia) | Posted: May 04, 2007 - 14:50 kaosmonkey wrote: Only in Jamaica?
Thats what I thought too. But I just had a look at the lyrics. Whoa there's a story here: This here is the place I will be staying There isnt a number. you can call the pay phone Let it ring a long, long, long, long time If I dont pick up, hang up, call back, let it ring some more If I dont pick up, pick up. the sidewinder sleeps, sleeps, sleeps in a coil (chorus) Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her There are scratches all around the coin slot Like a heartbeat, baby, trying to wake up, But this machine can only swallow money You cant lay a patch by computer design Its just a lot of stupid, stupid signs Tell her, Tell her she can kiss my ass, then laugh and say that you were only kidding That way shell know that its really, really, really, really me, me (repeat chorus) Baby, instant soup doesnt really grab me Today I need something more sub-sub-sub-substantial A can of beans or blackeyed peas, some nescafe and ice, A candy bar, a falling star, or a reading of doctor seuss (repeat chorus) The cat in the hat came back, wrecked a lot of havoc on the way, Always had a smile and a reason to pretend But their world has flat backgrounds and little need to sleep but to dream The sidewinder sleeps on his back Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her Call me when you try to wake her up, call me when you try to wake her I can always sleep standing up, call me when you try to wake her |
| timandjuliet (Lidsville) | Posted: Mar 11, 2005 - 15:39 kaosmonkey wrote: Only in Jamaica?
Always thought it was Call me Jamaica. Yours makes more sense. |
| kaosmonkey (West Coast) | Posted: Mar 11, 2005 - 15:36 Only in Jamaica? |
| blythemeteor (in my happy place) | Posted: Mar 11, 2005 - 15:35  |
| dwhayslett (Raleigh, NC) | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:53 Trustocity wrote: But wouldn't you rather hear something from "Document"? Not necessarily. Variety, and all that. |
| Trustocity (Boston, baby) | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:23 dwhayslett wrote: Looks like Bill has it figured out just fine. Sigh... The rating says you're right. But wouldn't you rather hear something from "Document"? I know I would. |
| blkstd (Champaign, IL) | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:19 I wonder how much REM was paid to do this song. |
| dwhayslett (Raleigh, NC) | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:16 Trustocity wrote: There is good REM, average REM, and bad REM. This is above average but not good. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please stop playing bad and/or average REM and start playing good REM. You need me to tell you which is which? You run the eclectic radio station; figure it out!
Looks like Bill has it figured out just fine. |
| zaknafein (Kansas City, MO) | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:14 cpmwi wrote: Listen - we cannot understand the lyrics the first time! Whyinsist on repeating them.. Fundamental problem with REM, with REM with REM - too many repeats...
Call me and try to her up What's so hard about that? :) |
| Trustocity (Boston, baby) | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:14 There is good REM, average REM, and bad REM. This is above average but not good. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please stop playing bad and/or average REM and start playing good REM. You need me to tell you which is which? You run the eclectic radio station; figure it out! |
| vlynder | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:13 dmax wrote: After Dylan's Idiot Wind? I hate these guys enough already, but this is like salt in the wound.
Looks like we're on the same order today.... rough.... for me, anyway, seems like plenty of people dig this. |
| gntlemanartist (Telos) | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:13 :D/      |
| physicsgenius | Posted: Jan 26, 2005 - 09:12 REM could be so good if they got a new singer |
| cpmwi (Oceanside, CA) | Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 15:12 Listen - we cannot understand the lyrics the first time! Whyinsist on repeating them.. Fundamental problem with REM, with REM with REM - too many repeats... |
| LazyMF | Posted: Jan 11, 2005 - 15:12 What dmax said. First 3 albums are great; the rest is tough to listen to. |
| (former member) (Shadow Valley Condos) | Posted: Dec 27, 2004 - 21:31 After Dylan's Idiot Wind? I hate these guys enough already, but this is like salt in the wound. IRS label REM were genius, but the Warner label stuff is pure crap. |
| joempie | Posted: Dec 13, 2004 - 02:06 what? communists are bakers? coming in Jamaica? ??? |
| veegez (Illconsota) | Posted: Nov 28, 2004 - 07:41 dsmcd01 wrote: Release date: October 1992.
OMFG it's been a dozen years already?! Where'd that time go? I'd like some of it back, please. :D If you get some, I get to have some! |
| dsmcd01 | Posted: Oct 29, 2004 - 19:54 Release date: October 1992. OMFG it's been a dozen years already?! Where'd that time go? I'd like some of it back, please. :D |
| rsfaris | Posted: Oct 15, 2004 - 01:20 UGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! NO MORE REM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| ArbiterOfGoodTaste (Seattle WA) | Posted: Sep 15, 2004 - 17:06 "Call me when you try to wake her up." Oh, that's what he's sayin'. |