I’m not going to fight anyone about this, but it seems like a reconstruction-era interchange between a northerner, and a southern peddler.

If you would like to learn more about R.E.M., here you go.

I also recommend you listen to the podcast Unjustly Maligned #48 “R.E.M., Early” featuring Merlin Mann.

You know the rules. This song was in my head while getting ready for work today.

Swan, swan, hummingbird
Hurrah, we are all free now
What noisy cats are we
Girl and dog he bore his cross

Swan, swan, hummingbird
Hurrah, we are all free now
Long low time ago
People talk to me

Johnny Reb, what’s the price of fans
Forty a piece or three for one dollar?
Hey captain, don’t you want to buy
Some bone chains and toothpicks?

Night wings or hair chains
Here’s your wooden greenback, sing
Wooden beams and dovetail sweep
I struck that picture ninety times

I walked that path a hundred ninety
Long, low time ago, people talk to me

A pistol hot cup of rye
The whiskey is water, the water is wine
Marching feet, Johnny Reb, what’s the price of heroes?

Six in one, half dozen the other
Tell that to the captain’s mother
Hey captain, don’t you want to buy?
Some bone chains and toothpicks?

Night wings, her hair chains
Swan, swan, hummingbird
Hurrah, we are all free now
What noisy cats are we

Long, low time ago, people talk to me
A pistol hot cup of rye
The whiskey is water, the water is wine