Disguised
R.E.M. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comes from somewhere
But they would just as soon forget
and disguise
Disguised as they know what I made I feel it
No one saw your face, no one saw your fear
If that apparition had just appeared
Took you up and away from this place and sheer humiliation
Nobody cares no one remembers or cares
No one cares if your fantasies are
Dressed up in travesties
Enjoy yourself with no regrets
Two, three, four
If you call out safe then I'll stop right away
If the premise explode and the world starts to shake
For the details great
With the stories the same
You don't have to explain
You don't have to explain
Humiliation
Of your teenage station
No one cares if your fantasies are
Dressed up in travesties
Enjoy yourself with no regrets
Everybody here comes from somewhere
If they would just as soon forget,
And disguise
Disguised as they know what I feel I feel it
At the summer camp where you volunteered
No one saw your face, no one saw your fear
If that apparition had just appeared
Took you up and away from this place and sheer humiliation
Of your teenage station
A celebration Of your teenage station
Nobody cares no one remembers and nobody cares
Nobody cares no one remembers and nobody cares
The lyrics of "Disguised" by R.E.M. touch on the idea of hiding one's past and true self behind a mask of false appearances. It reflects on the fear of being judged by others and the desire to be accepted and recognized for who we truly are. The song starts with the statement that everybody has a past, but they try to forget it and pretend to be someone they are not. The singer acknowledges this phenomenon and relates it to his own experiences of feeling lonely and isolated due to the fear of being exposed. He questions whether anybody cares or remembers our true selves behind the disguise.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that we can enjoy our lives and indulge in our fantasies, even if they are considered absurd or strange by others. We don't have to explain ourselves or justify our actions to anyone. The singer urges the listener to celebrate their teenage years, which are often marked by insecurity and self-doubt, but are also essential to shaping our identities.
The second verse of the song talks about the fear of being judged and ridiculed by others, especially during adolescence. It describes how even the memories of a summer camp, where one would expect to have fun and make friends, can be tainted by the feelings of humiliation and fear. The singer once again emphasizes that nobody cares or remembers our teenage insecurities and that we can rise above them by embracing our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody here
Every person in this place
Comes from somewhere
Has a history or origin location they came from
But they would just as soon forget
They don't want to remember or acknowledge their past
and disguise
They try to hide or conceal their true self
Disguised as they know what I made I feel it
Masking themselves in a way they think others will accept, but the artist can still sense their true feelings
No one saw your face, no one saw your fear
Despite being surrounded by people, no one noticed the singer's emotions
If that apparition had just appeared
If something unexpected had happened
Took you up and away from this place and sheer humiliation
Removed the artist from a situation that was causing them great embarrassment
Of your teenage station
From the awkwardness of being a teenager
Nobody cares no one remembers or cares
People don't think about or remember what happened to the artist
No one cares if your fantasies are
No one judges the singer's fantasies
Dressed up in travesties
Even if those fantasies are strange or unconventional
Enjoy yourself with no regrets
The singer should not feel ashamed for indulging in their fantasies
Two, three, four
This is a count-in to the next part of the song
If you call out safe then I'll stop right away
If the singer indicates that they are uncomfortable or want to stop, the other person will comply
If the premise explode and the world starts to shake
If the situation becomes too intense or emotional
For the details great
For all the specifics and intricacies
With the stories the same
Even if the situation is different, the emotions are universal
You don't have to explain
The singer doesn't need to justify their feelings or actions
Humiliation
The feeling of being embarrassed and ashamed
Of your teenage station
During the time of life when someone is a teenager
No one cares if your fantasies are
Repeating this idea to emphasize how unimportant it is
Dressed up in travesties
Even if someone's fantasies are unconventional
Enjoy yourself with no regrets
The artist should not feel ashamed for indulging in their fantasies
Everybody here comes from somewhere
Repeating this idea once again
If they would just as soon forget,
They try to forget their past
And disguise
They are hiding their true identity
Disguised as they know what I feel I feel it
Even though they are pretending, the artist can still sense their true emotions
At the summer camp where you volunteered
Recalling a specific example of a time when the artist felt embarrassed
No one saw your face, no one saw your fear
Once again emphasizing that the singer's discomfort went unnoticed
If that apparition had just appeared
Repeating this phrase from earlier
Took you up and away from this place and sheer humiliation
Escaping from the situation that was causing embarrassment and shame
Of your teenage station
Once again reminding the listener that this was during the awkward time of adolescence
A celebration Of your teenage station
Suggesting that despite the discomfort felt during adolescence, it is still a time to be celebrated
Nobody cares no one remembers and nobody cares
Repeating this idea one last time to end the song
Contributed by Sophie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.