R.E.M. - Bad Day

First performance: 02/10/2004

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 3 times:
 
During the vote for change tour, always together with Michael Stipe. The song was played during R.E.M.'s set, with Michael Stipe on lead vocals, joined by Bruce Springsteen on guitar, harmonica, and backing vocals.
 
 
 
2004-10-02 - GUND ARENA, CLEVELAND, OH
Bruce joins R.E.M. for two songs this time - "Bad Day" and "Man On The Moon". 
 
2004-10-03 - COBO ARENA, DETROIT, MI 
2004-10-05 - XCEL ENERGY CENTER, ST. PAUL, MN
 

Songinfo

"Bad Day" is a song recorded by R.E.M.. It is one of two previously unreleased songs from their 2003 compilation album, In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003, and was released as the album's lead single in October 2003.The song first appeared in 1985, when Michael Stipe sang a few words of it during a concert in Albany, New York, as part of the Reconstruction tour. Then, around the time of Lifes Rich Pageant, the song emerged in a more polished version with the title "PSA"—an abbreviation for "public service announcement". An anti-media rant inspired by a day Stipe found a camcorder lens in his face when he answered the front door, the song was never released but did serve as a sort of forerunner to "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)", a song with a similar cadence and delivery. In 2003, Stipe saw that the song still had contemporary resonance, and the band finally recorded it for In Time, with only slightly updated lyrics and under the new title "Bad Day".
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

A public service Announcement followed me home the other day
I paid it never mind
Go away
Shit 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 anesthetized
"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
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 to ashes, we all fall down
Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, Lord
Count your blessings
Ignore the lower fears
Oh, this means war
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
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
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please
It's been a bad day
Please don't take a picture
It's been a bad day
Please