I'll take the position
Assume the missionary part
You work by committee,
You had me pegged from the start
I'll be pounce pony,
Phony maroney,
Pony before the cart
I'll be pounce pony
This ceremony
Only fills my heart
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me? [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/rem/falls_to_climb.html ]
A punch toy volunteer
A weakling on it's knee
Is all you want to hear
And all you want to see
Romantically, you'd martyr me
And miss this story's point
It is my strength, my destiny
This is the role that I have chosen
(chorus)
Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me? Why not me?
Gentlemen mark your opponents
Fire into your own ranks
Pick the weakest as strategic
Move. Square off. To
Meet your enemy
For each and every gathering
A scapegoat falls to climb
As I step forward, silently
Deliberately mine
(repeat chorus)
Had consequence chose differently
Had fate it's ugly head
My actions make me beautiful
And dignify the flesh
It's beautiful. It sums up the whole album as it wrestles with with depression (or at least depressive tendencies), isolation, passivity and the battle just to be happy sometimes. I don't think it's a hopeful song - not by any means - but at least gives you a sense that he's embracing his destiny, even if it's not a happy one, and prepared to face it with his head held high. How good is the part: romantically, you'd martyr me and miss this story's point. It is my strength, my destiny; this is the road that i have chosen. Like i said - beautiful.