R.E.M. - Imitation Of Life Tabs

Imitation of Life 

Em / C / C / C
G / Em / Am / C D

Em / Am / G / D(with F#)
charades pop skills
water hyacinth
named by a poet
imitation of life

Em / Am / G / D(with F#) 
like a koi in a frozen pond
like a goldfish in a bowl
i don't want to hear you cry

G / Em / Am / C D
that sugar cane 
that tasted good
that cinnamon
that's hollywood
come on, come on
no one can see you try

you want the greatest thing
the greatest thing since bread came sliced
you've got it all you've got it sized

like a Friday fashion show teenager
prison in the corner
trying to look like you don't try

that sugar cane
that tasted good
that cinnamon
that's hollywood
come on, come on
no one can see you try

bridge-(with distorted "no one can see me lie?)

G / Em / Am / C D
that sugar cane
that tasted good
that's freezing rain
that's what you could
come on, come on
no one can see you cry

this sugar cane
this lemonade
this hurricane
i'm not afraid
come on, come on
no one can see me cry

this lightning storm
this tidal wave
this avalanche
i'm not afraid
come on, come on
no one can see me cry

that sugar cane
that tasted good
that's who you are
that's what you could
come on, come on
no one can see you cry 
(repeat above section again)

CHORUS AND THE RING

A G/A A G/A

even I am willing
swing along
quote the scriptures
keep them guessing
which bit you crawled from

justified, just denied (deny it)
was it fun?
your time has come
what have you done?
what have you done?

D,Em

that's when the insults start to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chiming the grief
chorus the machine of god
singing....

it's the poison that it measures
brings eliminating vision
it's the knowing if the ring (wing?)
will be expecting southern women
it's the wolf that (numbs the trip today?)
to save itself (its own)
it's the octopus that crawled back
to its knees (sea)

that's when the insults start to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chiming the grief
chorus the machine of god
heeeey...

G D G D
G D Em 
(Am I) Emma (shooting firewood?) in the backyard
laughing 'cause the record makes the blackbirds sing
like the holy terror suck the marrow from the bone
sends your ownings burning books
you've got the chorus and the ring

that's when the insults start to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chiming the grief
chorus the machine sings

that's when the insults start to sting
you can't remember anything
the chorus chiming the grief
chorus the machine sings

that's when the calibration brittle wears a stick
it's you the gold ring and the time museum
(shape?) a better wing (ring?)
go free... going.

saaaaaay...
saaaaaay...