BAD DAY

R.E.M.'s original version

A Public service announcement followed me home the other day
I paid it nevermind
Go away
Shit's so thick you could stir it with a stick
Free Teflon whitewashed presidency
We're sick of being jerked around
Wear that on your sleeve

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down

Have you ever seen the televised St. Vitus subcommittee prize
Investigation dance?
Those-ants-in- pants glances
Well, look behind the eyes
It's a hallowed, hollow anesthesized
"Save my own ass, screw these guys"
Smoke and mirror lock down

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
The papers wouldn't lie!
I sigh
Not one more

It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please

We're dug in the deep the price is steep
The auctioneer is such a creep
The lights went out, the oil ran dry
We blamed it on the other guy
Sure, all men are created equal
Here's the church, here's the steeple
Please stay tuned, we cut to sequel
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
Ignore the lower fears
Ugh, this means war

It's been a bad day

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord
Count your blessings
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down

It's been a bad day...

By R.E.M. who wrote it in the '80s about the policies of US president Ronald Reagan, and finally released on their 2003 greatest hits album, In Time - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, with the theme of the song applied to the policies of president George W. Bush.

 The above lyrics refer to R.E.M.'s official version of the song. The live 02 Oct 2004 version with Bruce Springsteen.