Listening to R.E.M. on Radio Paradise

R.E.M. — The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite

Album: Automatic for the People
Avg rating:

7.2

Your rating:

Total ratings: 305

Released: 1992
Length: 4:02
Plays (last 30 days): 0

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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

Comments (57)add comment

It's been almost 7 years since this thing got played—-TIME TO TROT IT OUT AGAIN!

Posted 9 years ago by treatment_bound [ Reply ]

Did he really say, "Tripped me out"?? Oh yeah. 1980.

Posted 16 years ago by cochlear [ Reply ]

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.

Posted 16 years ago by Brotherchaos1980 [ Reply ]

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.

Posted 16 years ago by Carl [ Reply ]

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?

Posted 16 years ago by Hinkamp [ Reply ]

ajlept wrote:

WHAT!

No kidding. This IS the 90s to me. Automatic is one of the best musical works of the twentieth century IMO.

Posted 16 years ago by zaknafein [ Reply ]

zipper wrote:

I've never heard this.

WHAT!

Posted 16 years ago by ajlept [ Reply ]

My daughter and I had a special relationship with this song when she was young

Posted 16 years ago by hippiechick [ Reply ]

I've never heard this.

Posted 16 years ago by zipper [ Reply ]

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!

Posted 16 years ago by MonkeyPod [ Reply ]

This song is played to death. I cannot hear it anymore.

Posted 17 years ago by TheKing2 [ Reply ]

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!!

Posted 17 years ago by horstman [ Reply ]

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.

Posted 17 years ago by haljordan [ Reply ]

Automatic is simply a masterpiece. I'd love to hear Ignoreland.

Posted 17 years ago by zaknafein [ Reply ]

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...

Posted 17 years ago by RobK [ Reply ]

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.

Posted 17 years ago by canadave [ Reply ]

"some nescafe and ice" - ahh, memories of Greece where we had Nescafe everymorning. The best!

Posted 17 years ago by siandbeth [ Reply ]

And, I'm surprised that not every song on this album is in RP's playlist! What a shame.

Posted 17 years ago by lathyris [ Reply ]

This makes me nostolgic for my childhood in the early 90s.

Posted 17 years ago by bookishbitty [ Reply ]

Yet another of the 12 reasons this is one of the best albums of the 90s. . .and all time, in my opinion.

Posted 17 years ago by lathyris [ Reply ]

yulia wrote:

I love REM...

yes, normal. but there is much more better stuff than this 'sidewinder'-song at all....

Posted 17 years ago by prickelpit96 [ Reply ]

dmax wrote:

GOOD GOD TURN THIS WHINY CRAP OFF PLEASE

really that bad?

Posted 17 years ago by prickelpit96 [ Reply ]

A candy bar, a falling star, or a reading of doctor seuss Amazing. One of their best songs, really catchy

Posted 17 years ago by Kerly [ Reply ]

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.

Posted 17 years ago by veegez [ Reply ]

blkstd wrote:

I wonder how much REM was paid to do this song.

Posted 17 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

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! :)

Posted 17 years ago by Viv515 [ Reply ]

Only chaw bacon?

Posted 17 years ago by pomalley [ Reply ]

kaosmonkey wrote:

Only in Jamaica?

Posted 17 years ago by davin [ Reply ]

kaosmonkey wrote:

Only in Jamaica?

Always thought it was Call me Jamaica. Yours makes more sense.

Posted 19 years ago by timandjuliet [ Reply ]

Only in Jamaica?

Posted 19 years ago by kaosmonkey [ Reply ]

Posted 19 years ago by blythemeteor [ Reply ]

Trustocity wrote:

But wouldn't you rather hear something from "Document"?

Not necessarily. Variety, and all that.

Posted 19 years ago by dwhayslett [ Reply ]

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.

Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity [ Reply ]

I wonder how much REM was paid to do this song.

Posted 19 years ago by blkstd [ Reply ]

Trustocity wrote:

Looks like Bill has it figured out just fine.

Posted 19 years ago by dwhayslett [ Reply ]

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? :)

Posted 19 years ago by zaknafein [ Reply ]

Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity [ Reply ]

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.

Posted 19 years ago by vlynder [ Reply ]

\:D/

Posted 19 years ago by gntlemanartist [ Reply ]

REM could be so good if they got a new singer

Posted 19 years ago by physicsgenius [ Reply ]

Listen - we cannot understand the lyrics the first time! Whyinsist on repeating them.. Fundamental problem with REM, with REM with REM - too many repeats...

Posted 19 years ago by cpmwi [ Reply ]

What dmax said. First 3 albums are great; the rest is tough to listen to.

Posted 19 years ago by LazyMF [ Reply ]

what? communists are bakers? coming in Jamaica? ??

Posted 19 years ago by joempie [ Reply ]

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!

Posted 19 years ago by veegez [ Reply ]

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

Posted 20 years ago by dsmcd01 [ Reply ]

UGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! NO MORE REM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 20 years ago by rsfaris [ Reply ]

"Call me when you try to wake her up." Oh, that's what he's sayin'.

Posted 20 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste [ Reply ]

GolfRomeo wrote:

REM's ship flaming out, spinning toward earth, seconds before impact. One of my favorite bands in the their death knell. Awful.

Profoundly incorrect.

Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy [ Reply ]

REM's ship flaming out, spinning toward earth, seconds before impact. One of my favorite bands in the their death knell. Awful.

Posted 20 years ago by GolfRomeo [ Reply ]

Perfection. Wish they'd do it live.

Posted 20 years ago by zaknafein [ Reply ]

I love when you can hear Stipe chuckle just after he sings "...or a reading from Dr. Seuss."

Posted 20 years ago by Alexandra [ Reply ]

this song makes me so happy yet so thoughtful and reflective. "Automatic for the people" is one of the best albums of the 90s ...

Posted 20 years ago by borderlessworld [ Reply ]

More from Automatic For The People. Terrific. Wonderful. Wonderful. :)

Posted 20 years ago by veegez [ Reply ]