R.E.M. - Living Well Is the Best Revenge Lyrics

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Written by Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills, this track from Accelerate (2008) is a fiery rock anthem with sharp lyrics addressing resilience and defiance against criticism and adversity.

Song lyrics

It's only when your poison spins into the life you'd hoped to live

That suddenly you wake up in a shaking panic - wow!

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.


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


Don't turn your talking points on me, history will set me free

The future's ours and you don't even read the footnote now!

So who's chasing you? Where did you go?

You disappeared mid-sentence

In a judgement crisis I see my anecdote for it

You weakened shell.


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


You savour 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!


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

Baby, I am calling you on that

Baby, I am calling you on

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