Begin the Begin

{{short description|Song by R.E.M,}}

{{about|the R.E.M. song|the Cole Porter song|Begin the Beguine|the television episodes|Begin the Begin (Grey's Anatomy)|and|List of Covert Affairs episodes}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Begin the Begin

| cover =

| alt =

| type =

| artist = R.E.M.

| album = Lifes Rich Pageant

| released = {{Start date|1986|7|28}}

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|hard rock{{Cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/feature/66852-it-starts-with-an-earthquake-rems-monster/ |title=It Starts with an Earthquake: R.E.M.'s Monster |date=February 26, 2009 |work=PopMatters |last=Schumer |first=Ben}}}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=28}}

| label = I.R.S.

| writer = {{hlist|Bill Berry|Peter Buck|Mike Mills|Michael Stipe}}

| producer = Don Gehman

}}

"Begin the Begin" is the first song on R.E.M.'s fourth album, Lifes Rich Pageant. Lead singer Michael Stipe has called it "a song of personal, political activism."Hogan, Peter, The Complete Guide to the Music of REM, page 109. Omnibus Press, 1995. {{ISBN|0-7119-4901-8}} Though never released as a single, it appeared frequently in the band's live performances as a song early in the set. It was even used as an opening song in the live performances at their inductions into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame{{cite web | date = September 17, 2006 | title=R.E.M. inducted into Music Hall of Fame | publisher=USAToday.com | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2006-09-17-REM-hall-of-fame_x.htm | access-date=February 10, 2008}} and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.{{cite web | author=Cohen, Jonathan | date = March 13, 2007 | title=R.E.M., Van Halen Lead Rock Hall's '07 Class | publisher=Billboard.com | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1053989/rem-van-halen-lead-rock-halls-07-class | access-date=February 10, 2008}} The song was also included as the first track on their 2006 compilation And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987.

As the opening track on Lifes Rich Pageant, the song heralded a new clarity in Stipe's vocals.Hogan, page 32. Written on acoustic guitars in Stipe's home, the original version of the song was a minute longer, with five different choruses, lacking melody and a bridge.Hogan, page 33. Replete with references to Americana and revolution, the title is a pun on Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine".