Around the Sun

Every so often thanks to genius that is beyond my intellect but not beyond my understanding, comes along a sublime person or group of people who elucidate a common, shared passion in a unique art form...a book, a piece of writing, most often by way of song. One such group of individuals call themselves R.E.M. Although I had the tremendous good fortune to watch them full throttle, it was before they came out with their latest manifestation of the common bond that R.E.M & their fans (me) share - "Around the Sun" which was released late last year but which I have only fully absorbed lately. The album received terrible reviews & accussed Michael Stipe of a lack of creativity & dearth of the usual R.E.M magic. However, to me once again his words echo the need of the times. A piece from the album below. And for the R.E.M fans, if you want to hear a completely new experimental composition check out "The Outsiders" from the same album.
The entire album: eminently listenable; with piercing lyrics from time to time.

Final Straw from "Around the Sun"

Now I don't believe and I never did
That two wrongs make a right.
If the world were filled with the likes of you
Then I'm putting up a fight. I'm putting up a fight.
Putting up a fight. make it right. make it right.

Now love cannot be called into question.
Forgiveness is the only hope I hold.
And love- love will be my strongest weapon.
I do believe that I am not alone.

For this fear will not destroy me.
And the tears that have been shed
It's knowing now where I am weakest
And the voice in my head. in my head.

Then I raise my voice up higher
And I look you in the eye
And I offer love with one condition.
With conviction, tell me why.
Tell me why.
Tell me why.
Look me in the eye.
Tell me why