I'll take the position
Assume the missionary part
You work by committee
You had me pegged from the start
I'll be pounce pony
Phoney maroney
Pony before the cart
I'll be pounce pony
This ceremony
Only fills my heart

Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

A punch toy volunteer
A weakling on its knee
Is all you want to hear
And all you want to see
Romantically, you'd martyr me
And miss this story's point
It is my strength, my destiny
This is the role that I have chosen

Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me?

Gentlemen mark your opponents
Fire into your own ranks
Pick the weakest as strategic move
Square off to meet your enemy
For each and every gathering
A scapegoat falls to climb
As I step forward, silently
Deliberately mine

Who cast the final stone?
Who threw the crushing blow?
Someone has to take the fall
Why not me? Why not me?
Had consequence chose differently
Had fate its ugly head
My actions make me beautiful
And dignify the flesh
Me, I am free, free

Copyright: Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer(s): Michael Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck