The Outsiders

[Verse 1: Michael Stipe]

You took me to the restaurant where we first met

You knocked a future shock crowbar upside my head

I got caught with the stop of the tick-tock, tick-tock clock

When you told me what you knew

Lost in the moment the day that the music stopped

And I do remember you

[Chorus: Michael Stipe]

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth

Promising volcanic change of plot

Where will this lead us? I'm scared of the storm

The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

[Verse 2: Michael Stipe]

I tried to tell you I am not afraid

You looked up and saw it all across my face

So am I with you or am I against?

I don't think it's that easy, we're lost in regret

Now I'm trying to remember the feeling when the music stopped

When you told me what you knew

Lost in the moment the day that the music stopped

And I do remember you

[Chorus: Michael Stipe]

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth

Promising volcanic change of plot

Where does this leave us? I'm scared of the storm

The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

[Chorus: Michael Stipe]

Drawing patterns with a cork on the tablecloth

Promising volcanic change of thought

Where does this leave us? I'm scared of the storm

The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

The outsiders are gathering, a new day is born

The outsiders are gathering

[Verse 3: Q-Tip]

A man walks away when every muscle says to stay

How many yesterdays? They each weigh heavy

Who says what changes may come?

Who says what we call home?

I know you see right through me, my luminescence fades

The dusk provides an antidote, I am not afraid

I've been a million times in my mind

This is really just a technicality, frailty, reality

Uh, it's time to breathe, time to believe

Let it go and run towards the sea

They don't teach that, they don't know what you mean

They don't understand, they don't know what you mean

They don't get it, I wanna scream

I wanna breathe again, I wanna dream

I wanna float a quote from Martin Luther King

I am not afraid, I am not afraid, I am not afraid

I am not afraid, I am not afraid, I am not afraid, I am not afraid