Songs → I Promise
Originally released on OKNOTOK. I Promise appears on the MiniDiscs in the form of several live performance recordings as well as a handful of soundchecks, and covers the range of time from the song's first live debut until it was originally abandoned.
The song was already written and arranged for the full band prior to the time period covered by the MiniDiscs.
Aside from slight lyrical variations there's not a lot of development between the various recorded versions of the song.
Recording Chronology
March - April 1996: On Tour
- I Promise (Portland)
- I Promise (San Francisco)
- I Promise {MD124}
- I Promise (Minneapolis)
- I Promise (Toronto)
- I Promise (NY)
July - August 1996: On Tour
- I Promise (Mansfield)
- I Promise {MD122 #1}
- I Promise {MD122 #2}
- I Promise {MD122 #3}
- I Promise (Hershey)
- I Promise (Pittsburgh)
Recordings → I Promise (Portland)
Full-band soundcheck. Recorded on 25 March 1996.
Discs → MD111 → I Promise (Portland)
Transcription
(Is it on?) / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the bed is cold, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / I know which side [?], I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when the bed is cold, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / I won't fool around again, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise
Recordings → I Promise (San Francisco)
Live concert debut performance. Recorded on 27 March 1996.
Discs → MD111 → I Promise (San Francisco)
Transcription
(This is another brand new song. This is the first time we've ever played in in public, ever. Not necessarily a good thing.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when you lock me out, I promise / Say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side [?], I promise / Tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I will be a good boy, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise / (Is it alright?)
Discs → MD113 → I Promise (San Francisco) ‡
Transcription
(This is the first time we've ever pl--)
Discs → MD113 → I Promise (San Francisco) ‡
Transcription
(This is the first time we've ever played in in public, ever. Not necessarily a good thing.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when you lock me out, I promise / Say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side [?], I promise / Tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I will be a good boy, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise / (Is it alright?)
Recordings → I Promise {MD124}
An early live performance. Recorded on an unknown date.
Discs → MD124 → <tape blip: fast-forwarding I Promise>
Transcription
(I can't read music, these are words --) / (-- REM tour and I stole --)
Discs → MD124 → I Promise {MD124} *
Transcription
(He said he didn't mind. This is a new song called I Promise.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when you lock me out, I promise / Say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / The tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotting deck, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / Don't tell me any more lies, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise / (Thanks.)
Recordings → I Promise (Minneapolis)
Live performance. Recorded on 3 April 1996.
Discs → MD111 → I Promise (Minneapolis)
Transcription
(But, um... part of the reason for coming out again is to play new songs, and this is another new song called I Promise. I hope you like it.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when you lock me out, I promise / I'll say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / The tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise
Recordings → I Promise (Toronto)
Live performance. Recorded on 6 April 1996.
Discs → MD111 → I Promise (Toronto)
Transcription
(We thought you might want to hear it, so. Hi.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when you lock me out, I promise / I won't ever have a doubt, I promise / Even when you rest [?], I promise / The tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise / (Thanks very much.)
Recordings → I Promise (NY)
Live performance. Recorded on 12 April 1996.
Discs → MD113 → I Promise (NY) {part b}
Transcription
Even when you lock me out, I promise / I say my prayers every night, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise
Discs → MD124 → I Promise (NY) {part a}
Transcription
(This is for the girl who just said Thom help me I'm dying down the front.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when you've locked me out, I promise / I'll say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / The tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when you lock me out --
Recordings → I Promise (Mansfield)
Live performance. Recorded on 14 August 1996.
Discs → MD121 → I Promise (Mansfield)
Transcription
(Thanks a lot.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / Tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even if the ship is wrecked, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even if the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise / (Thank you. That was a -- that was a brand new song.)
Recordings → I Promise {MD122 #1}
Live performance. Recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → I Promise {MD122 #1} *
Transcription
(Thanks a lot.) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / The tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise
Recordings → I Promise {MD122 #2}
Live performance. Recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → I Promise {MD122 #2} *
Transcription
I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / Tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise / (Thanks very much.)
Recordings → I Promise {MD122 #3}
Live performance. Recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → I Promise {MD122 #3}
Transcription
I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I'll say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / The tantrums and the chitty chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise
Recordings → I Promise (Hershey)
Live performance. Recorded on 26 August 1996.
Discs → MD118 → I Promise (Hershey)
Transcription
I won't run away again, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / The tantrums and the chilly chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise
Recordings → I Promise (Pittsburgh)
Live performance. Recorded on 27 August 1996.
Discs → MD118 → I Promise (Pittsburgh) †
Transcription
(You obviously don't think so. You obviously [?].) / I won't run away no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even with your funny eyes, I promise / I say my prayers every night, I promise / I know which side I'm spread, I promise / The tantrums and the chilly chat, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / I won't run away again, I promise / I won't fool around no more, I promise / Even when I get bored, I promise / Even when the ship is wrecked, I promise / Tie me to the rotten deck, I promise / I won't run away no more, I promise