englishAlternative Rock

The Great Beyond Lyrics

by R.E.M.

22 views • Published on Sep 29, 2026

The Great Beyond Lyrics

I've watched the stars fall silent from your eyes All the sights that I have seen I can't believe that I believed I wished That you could see There's a new planet in the solar system There is nothing up my sleeve I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there Over my shoulder a piano falls Crashing to the ground In all this talk of time Talk is fine But I don't want to stay around Why can't we pantomime, just close our eyes And sleep sweet dreams Me and you with wings on our feet I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there Over my shoulder a piano falls Crashing to the ground I'm breaking through I'm bending spoons I'm keeping flowers in full bloom I'm looking for answers from the great beyond I want the hummingbirds, the dancing bears Sweetest dreams of you I Look into the stars I Look into the moon I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs I'm tossing up punch lines that were never there Over my shoulder a piano falls Crashing to the ground I'm breaking through I'm bending spoons I'm keeping flowers in full bloom I'm looking for answers from the great beyond I'm breaking through I'm bending spoons I'm keeping flowers in full bloom I'm looking for answers from the great Answers from the great, answers I'm breaking through I'm bending spoons I'm keeping flowers in full bloom I'm looking for answers from the great beyond I'm breaking through I'm bending spoons I'm keeping flowers in full bloom I'm looking for answers from the great Answers from the great, answers I'm breaking through I'm bending spoons I'm keeping flowers in full bloom I'm looking for answers from the great beyond

Meaning of The Great Beyond

“The Great Beyond” explores a yearning for escape and transcendence amidst heartbreak and disillusionment. The lyrics paint a surreal, dreamlike landscape filled with absurd actions – pushing an elephant, tossing empty punchlines, bending spoons – representing the desperate attempts to conjure meaning or connection after losing someone significant. A sense of melancholy permeates the song as the narrator seeks solace in fantastical imagery: hummingbirds, dancing bears, and a desire to “sleep sweet dreams” with their lost love. The repetition emphasizes this longing for something beyond the tangible world, a ‘great beyond’ where answers might be found. Ultimately, R.E.M.’s message is one of quiet desperation, suggesting that even through bizarre acts and futile searches, the human spirit persistently seeks beauty, connection, and perhaps, a way to overcome profound sorrow by reaching for an idealized, unreachable realm.

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