This song is the opening track to the 2008 album Accelerate and served in R.E.M’s return to rock music. The title is a reference to the George Herbert book of proverbs, Jacula Prudentium.
Frontman Michael Stipe said the song was about, “that puff adder Bill O'Reilly, although his shrill offspring a...
[Verse 1: Michael Stipe]
It's only when your poison spins
Into the life you'd hoped to live
That suddenly you wake up in a shaken panic
Now
You set me up like a lamb to slaughter
Garbo as a farmer's daughter
Unbelievable, the gospel according to who?
I lay right down
[Chorus: Michael Stipe]
All your sad and lost apostles
Hum my name and flare their nostrils
Choking on the bones you toss to them
Well, I'm not one to sit and spin
'Cause living well's the best revenge
Baby, I am calling you on that
[Verse 2: Michael Stipe]
Don't turn your talking points on me
History will set me free
The future is ours and you don't even rate a footnote
Now
So who's chasing you? Where did you go?
You disappear mid-sentence
In a judgement crisis, I see my in and go for it
You weakened shill
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, Mike Mills]
All your sad and lost apostles (All your sad and)
Hum my name and flare their nostrils (Lost apostles)
Choking on the bones you toss to them (Choking on the bones)
Well, I'm not one to sit and spin (Well, I'm not one to)
'Cause living well's the best revenge (Sit and spin 'cause)
Baby, I am calling you on that
[Bridge: Michael Stipe]
You savor your dying breath
Well, I forgive but I don't forget
You work it out, let's hear that argument again
Camera three, go, now
[Chorus: Michael Stipe, Mike Mills]
All your sad and lost apostles (All your sad and)
Hum my name and flare their nostrils (Lost apostles)
Choking on the bones you toss to them (Choking on the bones)
Well, I'm not one to sit and spin (Well I'm not one to)
'Cause living well's the best revenge (Sit and spin 'cause)
Baby, I am calling you on that
[Outro: Michael Stipe, Mike Mills]
Baby, I am calling you on that
Baby, I am calling you out
(Baby, I am calling you out)
Living Well Is the Best Revenge was written by Peter Buck & Mike Mills & Michael Stipe.
Living Well Is the Best Revenge was produced by R.E.M. & Jacknife Lee.
R.E.M. released Living Well Is the Best Revenge on Mon Mar 31 2008.