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Harborcoat by R.E.M.
Release Date
Performed by
R.E.M.Produced by
Mitch Easter & Don DixonWrited by
Mike Mills & Peter Buck & Michael Stipe & Bill BerryAbout
This is the first song from R.E.M.’s second album, Reckoning. R.E.M.’s lyrics in their early years are notoriously dense and indecipherable, both in discerning what Michael Stipe is actually saying, and what his lyrics mean. This is a great example of a song with fascinating and vivid imagery, but w...
Harborcoat Lyrics
[Verse 1: Michael Stipe]
They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
A handshake is worthy, if it's all that you've got
Metal shivs on wood pushed through our back
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads 'react'
[Verse 2: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They've shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
(Laocoön is host)
Reddened their necks and collared their clothes
(The library hollowed)
Then we ditched the books with the middles cut out
(Friendly harbor ghosts)
She gathered the corners and collared her gown
(She wanted to tell it to you)
She said
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
[Verse 3: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off
(Tell her I will send hers ahead)
A handshake is worthy, if it's all that you've got
(You'll have done no wrong)
Metal shivs on wood pushed through our back
(Would I kiss her ass?)
There's a splinter in your eye and it reads 'react'
(Would I read the signs?)
R-E-A-C-T
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
[Verse 4: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills)]
They've shifted the statues for harboring ghosts
(With your feathers in)
Reddened their necks and collared their clothes
(You'll have done no wrong)
Then we danced the dance 'til the menace got out
(Friendly harbor ghosts)
She gathered the corners and collared her gown
(She went to tell her son)
She said
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, (Mike Mills), Bill Berry]
Ooh
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
(Please help me, please) Find my harbor coat
(Harborcoat is long away)
Can't go outside without it
(Harborcoat is gone, woah-woah-woah-woah)
Harborcoat Q&A
Who wrote Harborcoat's ?
Harborcoat was written by Mike Mills & Peter Buck & Michael Stipe & Bill Berry.
Who produced Harborcoat's ?
Harborcoat was produced by Mitch Easter & Don Dixon.
When did R.E.M. release Harborcoat?
R.E.M. released Harborcoat on Mon Apr 09 1984.
What did R.E.M. say about "Harborcoat"?
According to Marcus Gray in It Crawled from the South (1996, pg. 261), Stipe finally opened up about the song in 1991, saying:
“Harbourcoat” is rewriting of The Diary of Anne Frank“.
Is there a live performance of this song available?
Live, 1985