R.E.M. - E-Bow the Letter (with Thom Yorke)

Tibetan Freedom Concert 1998


In 1998, Thom Yorke of Radiohead performed with R.E.M. at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in Washington, D.C. He sang Patti Smith's part of "E-Bow the Letter," a duet with lead singer Michael Stipe. Stipe also joined Radiohead for a song, singing Yorke's part on "Lucky." Watch "Lucky" here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DS0Y1mGiSUg

E-Bow the Letter:
[from New Adventures in Hi-Fi]

Look up. What do you see?
All of you and all of me,
fluorescent and starry,
some of them they surprise

busride. I went to write this, 4:00 a.m.
this letter.
fields of poppies, little pearls.
All the boys and all the girls
sweet-toothed, each and every one a little scary.
I said your name.

I wore it like a badge of teenage film stars,
hash bars, cherry mash and tin foil tiaras.
Dreaming of Maria Callas,
whoever she is.
This fame thing, I don't get it.
I wrapped my hand in plastic to try to look through it.
Maybelline eyes and girl-as-boy moves.
I can take you far.
This star thing, I don't get it.

[I'll take you over. I'll take you there.]
Aluminum, it tastes like fear.
Adrenaline, it pulls us near.

Will you live to 83?
Will you ever welcome me,
will you show me something that nobody else has seen?
Smoke it, drink.
Here comes the flood,
anything to thin the blood.
These corrosives do their magic slowly, and sweet.
Phone, eat it, drink.
just another chink,
cuts and dents they catch the light.
Aluminum, the weakest link.

I don't want to disappoint you.
I'm not here to annoint you.
I would lick your feet
but is that the sickest move,
I wear my own crown, and sadness, and sorrow,
and who'd of thought tomorrow could be so strange?
My loss. And here we go again.

[I'll take you over. I'll take you there.]
Aluminum, it tastes like fear.
Adrenaline, it pulls us near.

It tastes like fear.
It pulls us near.

Look up, what do you see?
All of you and all of me,
fluorescent and starry
some of them they surprise.

I can't look it in the eyes.
Seconal, spanish fly, absinthe, kerosene,
cherry-flavored neck and collar.
I can smell the sorrow on your breath.
The sweat, the victory and sorrow.
This smell thing, I got it.

[I'll take you over. I'll take you there.]
Aluminum, it tastes like fear.
Adrenaline, it pulls us near.

It tastes like fear.
It pulls us near.
It tastes like fear.
It pulls us near.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• R.E.M.
• Michael
• Stipe
• Thom
• Yorke
• E-Bow
• the
• Letter
• Tibetan
• Freedom
• Concert
• 1998

[Coolshitdudes]

1:24 Is that Muammar Gaddafi on keys?

[nicholsjoshua15]

Oh my god this is my favorite R.E.M., and Micheal Stipe and Tom York are two of my favorite vocalist ever. To cut it short I';m in heaven right now.

[bernlin2000]

@KleWdSide They're doing two completely different parts, and they have completely different voices too.

[bernlin2000]

Well that could be my favorite live performance of all time: the dynamic between them is pretty amazing. I'm aware that Yorke doesn't swing that way, but there's no doubt that Stipe wouldn't mind it ;-)

[DanishCats]

I was born in the wrong decade! :(

[DanishCats]

I was born way too late!

[headplay10]

screw patti smith!!!! thom killed her part

[KleWdSide]

Great performance. Yorke certainly has Stipe beaten vocally though..