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."
Departure
R.E.M. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Salt Lake City, come in spring
Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me
Salt Lake City, come in spring
Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Departure, godspeed, bless his heart, good lord
What a fuck-up, what a fighter
A free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
Hung on the line like a poison spider
Win a eulogy from William Greider
Car crash, ptomaine, disposable lighter
A bus plunge, avalanche, a vinegar cider
Free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
Go, go, go, go, yeah
Go, go, go, go, yeah
Go, go, go, yeah
Well, everybody is young forever
There's so much to tell you, so little time
I've come a long way since the whatever
Shit, I still see a word, think of you
There is so much that I can't do, yeah
You will be young forever
There's so much that I can't do
There is so much that I can't do
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
"Departure" is a complex song that refers to the transience of life and the unavoidable feeling of nostalgia. The lyrics begin with a list of different places that the singer has travelled to, such as Singapore, San Sebastian, and Salt Lake City. The line "Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me" is almost certainly a reference to a personal experience of the singer or a couple of something that had been far from their mind, but was brought back to memory by a sudden event. The repetition, "Here it comes," serves to increase the sense of inevitability.
The second half of the song is a series of poetic images that are difficult to tease apart. The lines "Departure, godspeed, bless his heart, good lord" imply a farewell to someone who is departing, someone who has characteristics of both a "fuck-up" and a "fighter." The list of accidents and catastrophes that follow mix the mundane and the extreme, from "ptomaine" (food poisoning) to "avalanche." The repeated description of "free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider" are images that suggest living life on the edge, without the buffer and safety of individuality. Ultimately, these lines all converge towards the final repeated chorus, which reinforces the idea of inevitability that was present at the beginning of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Just arrived Singapore, San Sebastian, Spain, 26-hour trip
I've just landed in Singapore and San Sebastian, after a very long and tiring journey of about 26 hours.
Salt Lake City, come in spring
I plan to visit Salt Lake City in the upcoming Spring season.
Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me
I encountered a hailstorm while passing over the salt flats, which reminded me of a memory about you.
Departure, godspeed, bless his heart, good lord
I'm leaving for my trip, so please wish me good luck and godspeed.
What a fuck-up, what a fighter
I am both imperfect and resilient, able to handle challenges no matter how difficult they may seem.
A free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
I am engaging in adventurous activities like skydiving, riding a motorcycle, and hang-gliding.
Hung on the line like a poison spider
I am holding onto something dangerous like a spider with poison.
Win a eulogy from William Greider
I would like to be praised and remembered after I'm gone, like William Greider.
Car crash, ptomaine, disposable lighter
I'm at risk of getting into a car accident, eating contaminated food (ptomaine), and running out of resources like a lighter.
A bus plunge, avalanche, a vinegar cider
I am at risk of being involved in a bus accident or getting trapped in an avalanche, while also consuming something unappetizing (vinegar cider).
Free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
Again, I am taking risks in adventurous activities like skydiving, riding a motorcycle, and hang-gliding.
Well, everybody is young forever
No matter how old one gets, they will always feel young in their heart.
There's so much to tell you, so little time
There are so many things I want to share with you, but I don't have enough time to say them all.
I've come a long way since the whatever
I have traveled far and grown since a certain undefined moment in the past.
Shit, I still see a word, think of you
Even after all this time, certain words or phrases still remind me of you.
There is so much that I can't do, yeah
There are so many things I am incapable of doing.
You will be young forever
I believe that you will always feel youthful.
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Some sort of intense emotion or thought is overwhelming me.
Here it comes, back, back
A strong feeling or memory is making a comeback.
Go, go, go, go, yeah
I'm feeling enthusiastic and ready to move forward.
Go, go, go, yeah
I am urging myself to keep pushing and moving forward.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stjop2798
Just arrived Singapore, San Sebastian, Spain, 26-hour trip
Salt Lake City, come in spring
Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me
Salt Lake City, come in spring
Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes
Departure, godspeed, bless his heart, good lord
What a fuck-up, what a fighter
A free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
Hung on the line like a poison spider
Win a eulogy from William Greider
Car crash, ptomaine, disposable lighter
A bus plunge, avalanche, a vinegar cider
Free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
Go, go, go, go, yeah
Go, go, go, go, yeah
Go, go, go, yeah
Well, everybody is young forever
There's so much to tell you, so little time
I've come a long way since the whatever
Shit, I still see a word, think of you
There is so much that I can't do, yeah
You will be young forever
There's so much that I can't do
There is so much that I can't do
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
@just.beachy
Just arrived Singapore, San Sebastian, Spain, 26-hour trip.
Salt Lake City, come in spring over the salt flats.
A hailstorm brought you back to me.
Salt Lake City, come in spring over the salt flats.
A hailstorm brought you back to me.
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, bad.
Departure, godspeed, bless his heart, good lord.
What a fuck-up, what a fighter.
Free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider,
Hung on the line like a poison spider.
Win a eulogy from William Greider,
Car crash, ptomaine, disposable lighter,
A bus plunge, avalanche, RV, vinegar cider.
Free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider.
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, bad.
Go, go, go, go, yeah.
Well, everybody is young forever.
There's so much to tell you, so little time.
I've come a long way since, uh, whatever,
Shit, I still see that word and think of you.
There is so much that I can't do, yeah.
You will be young forever.
There is so much that I can't do.
There is so much that I can't do.
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, bad.
@philipkane9393
THIS ALBUM WAS A PERFECT FOLLOW-UP TO MONSTER. REM WAS SIMPLY TREMENDOUS!
@1mmickk
Fast forward, Michael is still taking pics of Architraves, Mike is still looking for a cheap Dentist, Bill is still raising corn, and Peter is still a Minstrel.
@halpoid
Some of the best, most emotive and charged guitar ever committed to tape. This album I recently rediscovered and my adrenals have not stopped thanking me yet. ❤
@markb20
"Well, everybody is young forever..."
I think I was still young enough in the mid 1990s (New Adventures came out in 1996) to believe this still applied to me.
But then things changed quickly. Like R.E.M.'s drummer Bill Berry, who almost died from a cerebral aneurysm on that tour, I too suddenly developed a major health problem. Someone happened to stop by my first apartment that day and found me unconscious and near death.
Now 25 years later, both R.E.M.'s New Adventures in Hi-Fi album and myself have been celebrating our respective 25th Anniversaries:
R.E.M. came out with a box set, while I never went in to a box (yet). Sorry about that.
And possibly like Berry, after 1996 this song (Departure) took on a whole new meaning.
@frankscott927
Loved R.E.M. since the start and this one just resonates with me hard. Always a favorite !!
@cristianoflorentino8559
Love this!
@anii8620
Saludos desde Buenos Aires argentina🇦🇷♥️🎶🎵🎶🎵
@stjop2798
Just arrived Singapore, San Sebastian, Spain, 26-hour trip
Salt Lake City, come in spring
Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me
Salt Lake City, come in spring
Over the salt flats a hailstorm brought you back to me
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes
Departure, godspeed, bless his heart, good lord
What a fuck-up, what a fighter
A free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
Hung on the line like a poison spider
Win a eulogy from William Greider
Car crash, ptomaine, disposable lighter
A bus plunge, avalanche, a vinegar cider
Free-fall, motorcycle, hang-glider
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
Go, go, go, go, yeah
Go, go, go, go, yeah
Go, go, go, yeah
Well, everybody is young forever
There's so much to tell you, so little time
I've come a long way since the whatever
Shit, I still see a word, think of you
There is so much that I can't do, yeah
You will be young forever
There's so much that I can't do
There is so much that I can't do
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes (I'm carried away)
Here it comes, back, back
@lukeroberts3464
Nice 😊.
@fredh1720
the lyrics are literally in the video you're commenting on, and you still got them wrong.