09. Ages of you
R.E.M. Lyrics


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[Chorus:]
Postcard stowaway within
Pristine indigo without
Banded ottoman as such
Sofa seated one too much
All along the range, all along the range
Ages of you
Ages of you
Ages of you

[Chorus:]

Train pulls over hanging bridge
Conductor looks up, thinks
Out and down, hands stuck to the left
To the right, you should fall,
The horses just don't gossip anymore

[Chorus:]

Ages of you




Ages of you
Ages of you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of R.E.M.'s song Ages Of You offer an enigmatic and interpretive narrative about the countless phases of life and the experiences that come with them. The song is divided into three different lyrical segments, each with its own message and meaning. The opening chorus talks about how one can unwittingly stumble upon things, such as a postcard, that will remain pristine and untouched in their memories. The second chorus describes a conductor of a train who seems to be lost in thought and cowers in fear of what would happen if someone fell out of the train on the hanging bridge. Lastly, the final chorus ends with a repetition of the first chorus, tying together the theme of the song which is that life is full of ages, all marked by different experiences and emotions.


The song is full of metaphors and imagery which can make it difficult to interpret the lyrics in a concrete and definitive way. The postcard, for instance, could be seen as a symbol for memories that one holds dear and preserved. The pristine indigo line could indicate the sky, which often represents freedom and possibility. The hanging bridge, on the other hand, could signify a precarious path in life that requires caution and mindfulness. The song's enigmatic and open-ended lyrical themes, as a result, leave a lot of room for interpretation and imagination.


Line by Line Meaning

Postcard stowaway within
Hidden feelings inside, like a postcard stowaway within luggage


Pristine indigo without
Clear blue skies without clouds


Banded ottoman as such
A patterned footstool, just like it's always been


Sofa seated one too much
One person sitting on a couch - suggests someone is missing


All along the range, all along the range
Throughout the duration of life, through all its ups and downs


Ages of you
Repeating the title as if highlighting the importance of the phrase


Train pulls over hanging bridge
The train stops over a suspension bridge, implying a sense of danger or instability


Conductor looks up, thinks
The conductor is deep in thought, something is troubling him


Out and down, hands stuck to the left
Confusion and disorientation - things are not clear, as if stuck to the left


To the right, you should fall,
Although it seems like you should fall to the right, you resist and stay where you are


The horses just don't gossip anymore
Things have changed, there is no longer talk or whispering the way there used to be




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL BERRY, PETER BUCK, MICHAEL MILLS, MICHAEL STIPE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Cockatoo Magnet

Classic REM. 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

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