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."
Can't Get There from Here
R.E.M. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bad to swallow you whole
Kick the clay that holds the teeth in
Throw your trolls out the door
If you're needing inspiration
Philomath is where I go
Lawyer Jeff he knows the low down
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
When your hands are feeling empty
Stickheads jumping off the ground
Tris is sure to shirr the deers out
Brother Ray can sing my song
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Hands down, Calechee bound
And locked, kiss the ground
The dirt of seven continents going
Round and round
Go on ahead Mr. Citywide
Hypnotize, suit and tie
Gentlemen testify
If your world is a monster
Bad to swallow you whole
Philomath they know the low-down
Throw your trolls out the door
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
Can't get there from here
(I've been there I know the way)
The lyrics to R.E.M.'s "Can't Get There from Here" speak to the difficulty of finding a way out from under the oppressive weight of the world. The opening lines, "When the world is a monster, / Bad to swallow you whole," paint a picture of a world that is overwhelming and all-consuming. The singer advises to "Kick the clay that holds the teeth in / Throw your trolls out the door," urging perseverance and resilience in the face of difficulty.
The song continues with the singer seeking inspiration and guidance from the town of Philomath, and Lawyer Jeff specifically. However, despite knowing the way there, the repeated refrain of "Can't get there from here" suggests that finding a way out of their predicament is not as straightforward as mere navigation. The later verses mention others who can potentially help, such as Tris and Brother Ray, yet the same sense of futility pervades the lyrics.
Towards the end, the lyrics reference hands "feeling empty" and "Stickheads jumping off the ground," painting a vivid picture of a desperate situation. Even as the singer urges others to "Throw your trolls out the door," the final line, "Can't get there from here," reinforces the idea that there may not be an easy solution to the problems at hand.
Line by Line Meaning
When the world is a monster
When everything around you seems like a beastly obstacle
Bad to swallow you whole
Which can easily overpower and consume you
Kick the clay that holds the teeth in
Fight back against the things that seem solid and unyielding
Throw your trolls out the door
Ignore the negative voices and influences that try to bring you down
If you're needing inspiration
If you're feeling stuck and unmotivated
Philomath is where I go
Turn to knowledge and scholarship to find guidance and direction
Lawyer Jeff he knows the low down
Get advice from someone who has experience and can offer practical solutions
He's mighty bad to visit home
He may be difficult or unpleasant to deal with, but it's worth it for the help he can provide
Can't get there from here
The path to success or happiness is not clear or easy
When your hands are feeling empty
When you feel like you have nothing to hold or grasp onto
Stickheads jumping off the ground
People who seem aimless or foolishly jumping into the unknown
Tris is sure to shirr the deers out
Someone can step forward and take control of a situation
Brother Ray can sing my song
Have faith that someone will understand and support you
Hands down, Calechee bound
Giving up and going back to where you started
And locked, kiss the ground
Feeling trapped and unable to move forward
The dirt of seven continents going
Feeling burdened and weighed down by the problems of the world
Round and round
Stuck in a cycle or pattern that repeats itself
Go on ahead Mr. Citywide
Press on, regardless of what obstacles may lay ahead
Hypnotize, suit and tie
Be wary of those who try to control or manipulate you with their authority and power
Gentlemen testify
People in positions of power or privilege may speak on behalf of others, but their motivations may not be genuine
If your world is a monster
If everything around you feels insurmountable
Philomath they know the low-down
Turn to knowledge and learning for answers
Throw your trolls out the door
Don't let negativity and criticism get in the way of your goals
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@themusic5229
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
@themusic5229
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
@themusic5229
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
R.E.M. - Love this song - Love R.E.M. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
@johnschober5240
Mike Mills is killing it on Bass
@pbassman99
He’s the man!
@mueford
I came here to say that
@brendanayres7920
I really like old REM music. There's something organic and flowing about it that's not so prevalent in their later music.
@tommyhaynes9157
The entire Fables of the Reconstruction album was all killer no filler. Every song was excellent. I think it's their best and Reckoning their second best
@dathorndike4908
Agreed. I listened to Fables yesterday. It had been years since I listened to it. A mark of a great album is that no matter how much time passes it still has that emotional resonance it had when you first listened. Fables still has that. I enjoyed it so much yesterday I listened to it AGAIN earlier today!
@colinwilson4609
@D A Thorndike It's great that they had an album called Murmur. Like the Cocteau Twins, their lyrics were best when they were semi-indecypherable and left something to the imagination.
@tracylincoln3092
Murmer is amazing top to bottom from to back black to.front no filler only killer tunes every damn one of them. And yes reckoning and fables are amazing as well. But really so is Life's rich pageant and document well damn 8m.in the rabbit hole.
@wilburjohnson5638
Best REM tune ever. Entire Fables album, one of the best.
@eframe65
wilbur johnson I was 14 when I heard this song on MTV and is the best song they sang and wrote. Later they wrote some interesting stuff but I have to give it to the song forgiven them a whole career!