Stand – English Lyrics

• By: R.E.M.
• Album: Tourfilm

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the upbeat world of R.E.M.'s "Stand," a vibrant pop-rock anthem that, despite its catchy and seemingly simple lyrics, carries a profound message about mindfulness and active living. This song offers a fun and accessible way to explore English idioms related to direction and self-awareness, making it a unique tool for language learners to connect with English through a playful yet meaningful musical experience.

[English]

Stand in the place where you live

Now face north

Think about direction

Wonder why you haven't before

Now stand in the place where you work

Now face west

Think about the place where you live

Wonder why you haven't before

If you are confused, check with the sun

Carry a compass to help you along

Your feet are going to be on the ground

Your head is there to move you around

So stand in the place where you live

Now face north

Think about direction

Wonder why you haven't before

Now stand in the place where you work

Now face west

Think about the place where you live

Wonder why you haven't before

Your feet are going to be on the ground

Your head is there to move you around

If wishes were trees, the trees would be falling

Listen to reason, season is calling

Stand in the place where you live

Now face north

Think about direction

Wonder why you haven't before

Now stand in the place where you work

Now face west

Think about the place where you live

Wonder why you haven't before

...

If wishes were trees, the trees would be falling

Listen to reason, reason is calling

Your feet are going to be on the ground

Your head is there to move you around

So stand (Stand!)

Now face north

Think about direction

Wonder why you haven't before

Now stand (Stand!)

Now face west

Think about the place where you live

Wonder why you haven't

Stand in the place where you live

Now face north

Think about direction

Wonder why you haven't before

Now stand in the place where you work

Now face west

Think about the place where you live

Wonder why you haven't before

Stand in the place where you are

Now face north

Stand in the place where you are

Now face west

Your feet are going to be on the ground

(Stand in the place where you are)

Your head is there to move you around, so stand

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - to be in an upright position
face /feɪs/ A1	verb - to be positioned toward something
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - to have ideas or opinions
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular area or location
direction /dəˈrɛkʃən/ A2	noun - the position or way something is facing
wonder /ˈwʌndər/ A2	verb - to think about something with curiosity
work /wɜːrk/ A1	noun - a place where one is employed
confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ A2	adjective - unable to think clearly
compass /ˈkʌmpəs/ B1	noun - an instrument for finding direction
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the surface of the earth
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position
reason /ˈriːzən/ A2	noun - a cause or explanation
season /ˈsiːzən/ A1	noun - a period of the year
falling /ˈfɔːlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to come down from a higher position
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A1	verb - to pay attention to sound

Key Grammar Structures

• Stand in the place where you live

  ➔ Imperative sentence

  ➔ The verb "Stand" is used as a command, telling someone to do something.

• Now face north

  ➔ Imperative sentence with adverb

  ➔ "Now" adds immediacy to the command "face".

• Think about direction

  ➔ Imperative with prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Think" is a command; "about direction" is the prepositional complement.

• Wonder why you haven't before

  ➔ Elliptical clause with present perfect

  ➔ "haven't" is a contracted form of "have not" and the verb is omitted (e.g., "have not thought").

• If you are confused, check with the sun

  ➔ First conditional + imperative

  ➔ "If you are confused" is a real condition (present simple), followed by the command "check with the sun".

• Your feet are going to be on the ground

  ➔ Future intention with "be going to"

  ➔ "are going to be" expresses a planned or certain future state.

• Your head is there to move you around

  ➔ Simple present + infinitive purpose clause

  ➔ "to move you around" explains the purpose of "is there".

• If wishes were trees, the trees would be falling

  ➔ Second conditional (unreal present)

  ➔ "were" and "would be" show an unreal situation in the present.

• Listen to reason, season is calling

  ➔ Imperative + present progressive

  ➔ "Listen" is a command; "season is calling" uses the present progressive to describe an ongoing action.