R.E.M. released its first single—"Radio Free Europe"—in 1981 on the independent record label Hib-Tone. The single was followed by the Chronic Town EP in 1982, the band's first release on I.R.S. Records. In 1983, the group released its critically acclaimed debut album, Murmur, and built its reputation over the next few years through subsequent releases, constant touring, and the support of college radio. Following years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit in 1987 with the single "The One I Love". The group signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1988, and began to espouse political and environmental concerns while playing large arenas worldwide.
By the early 1990s, when alternative rock began to enter the mainstream, R.E.M. was viewed by subsequent acts such as Nirvana and Pavement as a pioneer of the genre. The band released its two most commercially successful albums, Out of Time (1991) and Automatic for the People (1992), which veered from the band's established sound and catapulted it to international fame. R.E.M.'s 1994 release, Monster, was a return to a more rock-oriented sound, but still continued its run of success. The band began its first tour in six years to support the album; the tour was marred by medical emergencies suffered by three of the band members.
In 1996, R.E.M. re-signed with Warner Bros. for a reported US$80 million, at the time the most expensive recording contract in history. Its 1996 release, New Adventures in Hi-Fi, though critically acclaimed, fared worse commercially than its predecessors. The following year, Bill Berry left the band, while Stipe, Buck, and Mills continued the group as a trio. Through some changes in musical style, the band continued its career into the next decade with mixed critical and commercial success, despite having sold more than 85 million records worldwide and becoming one of the world's best-selling music artists. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in their first year of eligibility. R.E.M. disbanded amicably in September 2011, announcing the split on its website.
In January 1980, Michael Stipe met Peter Buck in Wuxtry Records, the Athens record store where Buck worked. The pair discovered that they shared similar tastes in music, particularly in punk rock and protopunk artists like Patti Smith, Television, and the Velvet Underground. Stipe said, "It turns out that I was buying all the records that [Buck] was saving for himself." Through mutual friend Kathleen O'Brien, Stipe and Buck then met fellow University of Georgia students Mike Mills and Bill Berry, who had played music together since high school and lived together in Georgia. The quartet agreed to collaborate on several songs; Stipe later commented that "there was never any grand plan behind any of it". Their still-unnamed band spent a few months rehearsing in a deconsecrated Episcopal church in Athens, and played its first show on April 5, 1980, supporting the Side Effects at O'Brien's birthday party held in the same church, performing a mix of originals and 1960s and 1970s covers. After considering Twisted Kites, Cans of Piss, and Negro Eyes, the band settled on "R.E.M." (which is an initialism for rapid eye movement, the dream stage of sleep), which Stipe selected at random from a dictionary.
The band members eventually dropped out of school to focus on their developing group. They found a manager in Jefferson Holt, a record store clerk who was so impressed by an R.E.M. performance in his hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that he moved to Athens. R.E.M.'s success was almost immediate in Athens and surrounding areas; the band drew progressively larger crowds for shows, which caused some resentment in the Athens music scene. Over the next year and a half, R.E.M. toured throughout the Southern United States. Touring was arduous because a touring circuit for alternative rock bands did not then exist. The group toured in an old blue van driven by Holt, and lived on a food allowance of $2 each per day.
R.E.M. was pivotal in the creation and development of the alternative rock genre. AllMusic stated, "R.E.M. mark the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock." In the early 1980s, the musical style of R.E.M. stood in contrast to the post-punk and new wave genres that had preceded it. Music journalist Simon Reynolds noted that the post-punk movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s "had taken whole swaths of music off the menu", particularly that of the 1960s, and that "After postpunk's demystification and New Pop's schematics, it felt liberating to listen to music rooted in mystical awe and blissed-out surrender." Reynolds declared R.E.M., a band that recalled the music of the 1960s with its "plangent guitar chimes and folk-styled vocals" and who "wistfully and abstractly conjured visions and new frontiers for America", one of "the two most important alt-rock bands of the day." With the release of Murmur, R.E.M. had the most impact musically and commercially of the developing alternative genre's early groups, leaving in its wake a number of jangle pop followers.
R.E.M.'s early breakthrough success served as an inspiration for other alternative bands. Spin referred to the "R.E.M. model"—career decisions that R.E.M. made which set guidelines for other underground artists to follow in their own careers. Spin's Charles Aaron wrote that by 1985, "They'd shown how far an underground, punk-inspired rock band could go within the industry without whoring out its artistic integrity in any obvious way. They'd figured out how to buy in, not sellout-in other words, they'd achieved the American Bohemian Dream." Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate said, "They invented a whole new ballgame for all of the other bands to follow whether it was Sonic Youth or the Replacements or Nirvana or Butthole Surfers. R.E.M. staked the claim. Musically, the bands did different things, but R.E.M. was first to show us you can be big and still be cool." Biographer David Buckley stated that between 1991 and 1994, a period that saw the band sell an estimated 30 million albums, R.E.M. "asserted themselves as rivals to U2 for the title of biggest rock band in the world." Over the course of its career, the band has sold over 85 million records worldwide.
Alternative bands such as Nirvana, Pavement, Radiohead, Coldplay, Pearl Jam (the band's vocalist Eddie Vedder inducted R.E.M. into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and Live, have drawn inspiration from R.E.M.'s music. "When I was 15 years old in Richmond, Virginia, they were a very important part of my life," Pavement's Bob Nastanovich said, "as they were for all the members of our band." Pavement's contribution to the No Alternative compilation (1993) was "Unseen Power of the Picket Fence", a song about R.E.M.'s early days. Local H, according to the band's Twitter account, created their name by combining two R.E.M. songs: "Oddfellows Local 151" and "Swan Swan H". Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was a fan of R.E.M., and had unfulfilled plans to collaborate on a musical project with Stipe. Cobain told Rolling Stone in an interview earlier that year, "I don’t know how that band does what they do. God, they’re the greatest. They've dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering great music."
During his show at the 40 Watt Club in October 2018, Johnny Marr said: "As a British musician coming out of the indie scene in the early '80s, which I definitely am and am proud to have been, I can't miss this opportunity to acknowledge and pay my respects and honor the guys who put this town on the map for us in England. I'm talking about my comrades in guitar music, R.E.M. The Smiths really respected R.E.M. We had to keep an eye on what those guys were up to. It's an interesting thing for me, as a British musician, and all those guys as British musicians, to come to this place and play for you guys, knowing that it's the roots of Mike Mills and Bill Berry and Michael Stipe and my good friend Peter Buck."
Begin the Begin
R.E.M. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Life's rich demand creates supply in the hand
Silence means security, silence means approval
On Zenith on the TV, tiger run around the tree
Follow the leader, run and turn into butter
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again like Martin Luther Zen
The mythology begins the begin
Answer me a question I can't itemize
I can't think clear, you look to me for reason
It's not there, I can't even rhyme here in the begin
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Example, the finest example is you
Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again
The lyrics of R.E.M.'s song Begin The Begin appear to be politically charged, with references to insurgency, the only vote that matters, and the powers that be. The opening line, "birdie in the hand for life's rich demand," suggests that this is a song about the pursuit of power and influence. The use of the word "insurgency" implies a rebellion or uprising against those in power, and the lines "silence means security, silence means approval" suggest that those who do not speak out are complicit in the actions of those in charge.
The reference to "Miles Standish proud" is interesting, as Miles Standish was an important figure in early American history, famously serving as the military leader of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony. This could be interpreted as a nod to the rebellion that founded America and the ongoing struggle for freedom and democracy.
The lines "on Zenith on the TV, tiger run around the tree, follow the leader, run and turn into butter" are cryptic and open to interpretation. It could be a reference to the power of the media to manipulate public opinion, or a comment on the futility of blindly following leaders without question.
Overall, the lyrics of Begin The Begin seem to be a call to action. The repeated refrain of "let's begin again" suggests a desire to start over and rebuild, to reject the status quo and work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
Opportunities should be seized when presented, especially in a world where the competition for success is fierce
The insurgency began and you missed it
A revolution or significant change has started, and you failed to recognize its significance or act upon it
I looked for it and I found it
I actively sought out and discovered the opportunity for change or revolution before it was too late
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me
A sense of pride or accomplishment in achieving something significant or meaningful, like the famed military leader Miles Standish
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Objects or possessions that are associated with questionable or unethical behavior, hinting at the corrupt nature of society
Life's rich demand creates supply in the hand
There is a constant need or desire for success, leading to an abundance of opportunities and resources for those who are able to seize them
Of the powers, the only vote that matters
In a world where power can be bought and sold, the only thing that truly matters is one's ability to influence or make a difference
Silence means security, silence means approval
In a corrupt or oppressive society, keeping silent is a form of self-preservation and a sign of acceptance or compliance
On Zenith on the TV, tiger run around the tree
The chaotic nature of the world is on full display, like a wild animal running in circles, with no clear direction or purpose
Follow the leader, run and turn into butter
Blindly following those in power or authority can lead to one's own downfall or destruction, as they are easily manipulated or discarded
Let's begin again, begin the begin
It is time to start over or make a significant change, to begin anew and pursue a better future
Let's begin again like Martin Luther Zen
A reference to influential leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and the Zen philosophy, inspiring a new era of change and enlightenment
The mythology begins the begin
The stories and legends of the past often inspire and guide those who seek to make a difference in the present
Answer me a question I can't itemize
Asking philosophical or existential questions that cannot be easily quantified or answered with a simple list of facts
I can't think clear, you look to me for reason
Feeling overwhelmed or uncertain in the face of the world's problems, yet others still look to you for guidance or a solution
It's not there, I can't even rhyme here in the begin
The answers and solutions are not clear or easily found, as even the basic ability to communicate or express oneself is hindered
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Claudio Miranda
Lyrics:
Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Life's rich demand creates supply in the hand
Of the powers, the only vote that matters
Silence means security, silence means approval
On Zenith on the TV, tiger run around the tree
Follow the leader, run and turn into butter
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again like Martin Luther Zen
The mythology begins the begin
Answer me a question I can't itemize
I can't think clear, you look to me for reason
It's not there, I can't even rhyme here in the begin
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Example, the finest example is you
Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again
Roiy Benkel
Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Life's rich demand creates supply in the hand
Of the powers, the only vote that matters
Silence means security silence means approval
On Zenith, on the TV, tiger run around the tree
Follow the leader, run and turn into butter
Let's begin again, begin the begin
Let's begin again like Martin Luther Zen
The mythology begins the begin
Answer me a question I can't itemize
I can't think clear, you look to me for reason
It's not there, I can't even rhyme here in the begin
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Example: the finest example is you
Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
I looked for it and I found it
Miles Standish proud, congratulate me
A philanderer's tie, a murderer's shoe
Let's begin again begin the begin
Let's begin again
foto21com
Proves a band doesn't have to be super heavy to be insanely emotional. Gotta attach yourself to that vocal and get it in your soul.
IlliniJake
There is a point in time when talented bands may or may not produce a masterpiece level recording. This was theirs for the masterpiece level. The entire album is brilliant and this opening track is nonstop balls out rock and roll. Everything that follows is equally enjoyable. The entire album is a true treasure.
Ten Minute Tokyo 2
One of the greatest albums of all time - also one of the most unknown + under-rated. I also highly recommend the album after this - Document. Both are out of sight.
Patrik
Totally agree
Mike Formato
Absolutely
Brett Scott
This was mostly an indie/college production.. ...Document was getting too mainstream and overly played
Bauke Jan Douma
The whole album and its production are an indelible MASTERWORK.
Mike Yerian
Mike Mills is a very underrated basis. Wonderful melodic bass.
Debra Poole
I get chills hearing that opening guitar riff. Every single time.
Stipe's' throaty voice, Buck's jangling guitar, Mill's hypnotic vocals. There is a reason REM is and will always be my #1. <3
Ken Kovar
ditto moi