In the liner n… Read Full Bio ↴Track 11 of 12 on the album Automatic For The People.
In the liner notes of 'In Time: The Best of R.E.M.' (2003) guitarist Peter Buck says that this is the only R.E.M. song where the lyrics came before the music. Lead singer Michael Stipe told Buck & bassist/ keyboardist Mike Mills he had written a full set of lyrics & maybe they could find some suitable music. When the band returned to the studio, Mills played a piece on the piano which fit Stipe's lyrics perfectly.
The song is supposedly about swimming naked at night (or 'skinny dipping') but many have their own interpretations.
Nightswimming
R.E.M. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago
Turned around backwards so the windshield shows
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse
Still, it's so much clearer
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge
The moon is low tonight
I'm not sure all these people understand
It's not like years ago
The fear of getting caught
Of recklessness and water
They cannot see me naked
These things, they go away
Replaced by everyday
Nightswimming, remembering that night
September's coming soon
I'm pining for the moon
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
Could not describe nightswimming
You, I thought I knew you
You I cannot judge
You, I thought you knew me
This one laughing quietly underneath my breath
Nightswimming
The photograph reflects, every streetlight a reminder
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night
R.E.M.'s Nightswimming is a nostalgic and reflective song about a memory that singer Michael Stipe fondly remembers. The song's tone feels melancholic as the lyrics describe the experience of 'nightswimming', where the singer and someone else went skinny dipping under the moonlight. The lyrics mention a photograph on the dashboard taken years ago, turned backwards so the windshield shows. The singer reflects on the memory of the night swimming, which is still clear despite being in reverse. The moon is low tonight, and the singer is pining for the moon- the same moon from that night, and wonders what if there were two.
The lyrics convey that the memory they share is a very intimate one, and the fear of getting caught - of recklessness and water made it more exciting. Now many years have passed and the memory has been replaced by everyday life. It’s clear from the lyrics that the singer’s feelings are bitter-sweet toward the memory. The photograph reflects the way life has passed by, and every streetlight serves as a reminder of what they had. The singer laments that he thought he knew the person he shared this experience with, but it seems that he may have been wrong about the other person.
The song conveys emotions which are somewhat melancholic and nostalgic- feelings that anyone can relate to - not just in terms of swimming but any shared memory that we cherish.
Line by Line Meaning
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
Swimming at night is an intimate experience that requires silence
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago
The picture in the car is an old memory
Turned around backwards, so the windshield shows
The photo is facing the opposite direction, but still visible through the windshield
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse
The lights reflect the image, but in a reversed way
Still, it's so much clearer
Despite the reversed image, it's still a vivid memory
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge
I was so lost in the moment, I forgot practical details like clothes
The moon is low tonight
The position of the moon sets a serene atmosphere for the night swim
I'm not sure all these people understand
Others might not appreciate the depth of the experience
It's not like years ago
The past experiences of night swimming are unique and can't be replicated
The fear of getting caught
The risk of getting caught contributed to the thrill of previous night swims
Of recklessness and water
Letting go of inhibition and enjoying the water was a part of those memories
They cannot see me naked
Others can't see me exposed in the water, but it's still an intimate moment
These things, they go away
The risks and fears of past experiences have dissipated with time
Replaced by everyday
The ordinary has replaced the extraordinary
Nightswimming, remembering that night
Reflecting on a past night swim
September's coming soon
The approaching fall season adds to the nostalgia of the memory
I'm pining for the moon
I am yearning for the serene setting of the night swim again
And what if there were two
Wondering if the intimate experience could be shared with another person
Side by side in orbit
A metaphor for shared experiences and relationships
Around the fairest sun?
Around the brightest and most beautiful life moments
That bright, tight forever drum
The memories are vivid and everlasting
Could not describe nightswimming
The experience is indescribable
You, I thought I knew you
Addressing someone who wasn't fully understood
You I cannot judge
Accepting that others are complex individuals who can't be judged easily
You, I thought you knew me
Feeling misunderstood or not fully known by someone else
This one laughing quietly underneath my breath
Laughing silently at the irony of the situation
Nightswimming
Reflecting on the beauty and intimacy of the night swim
The photograph reflects, every streetlight a reminder
The photo brings back memories with every light that reflects off of it
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night
The intimate experience deserves to be remembered and respected
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jahadyn
This comment just proves you are an artist at heart. There are many other songs that have that effect on me, too. As one example, While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison. When he says ...
I look at the world
And I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake
We must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
When I hear "we must surely be learning" my (his) sorrow and despair for our species and the world is so palpable I am always brought to tears. And yet, some people seem oblivious to that sentiment. But I know in my heart that I understand exactly how he felt when he wrote those words -- I only wish I could have expressed the thought so beautifully myself.
@Befuggled
I was 40 years old when "Automatic for the People" came out and captivated me. I was always intrigued by the lyrics :
"The photograph on the dashboard taken years ago,
turned around backwards so the windshield shows.
Every street light reveals a picture in reverse"
A few years later I started experimenting with a photo of old friends wedged between the windscreen
and dashboard, turned around so the people were looking forwards and upwards and went "Nightdriving". Every passing
street light revealed a transient flashing image of those dear to me.
It works and when I still occasionally do this it always reminds me of this great song and album.
(Less distracting than a mobile phone but I am not responsible for any erratic driving that might ensue.)
@andresarchila8424
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago
Turned around backwards so the windshield shows
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse
Still, it's so much clearer
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge
The moon is low tonight
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
I'm not sure all these people understand
It's not like years ago
The fear of getting caught
Of recklessness and water
They cannot see me naked
These things, they go away
Replaced by everyday
Nightswimming, remembering that night
September's coming soon
I'm pining for the moon
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
Could not describe nightswimming
You, I thought I knew you
You I cannot judge
You, I thought you knew me
This one laughing quietly underneath my breath
Nightswimming
The photograph reflects, every streetlight a reminder
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night
@davidwags6774
I was 22 years old when this came out , now I’m almost 50 . There are few things that can transport you to another time and place , this song is my time machine .
@tourzrap
David Wags has time flown by?
@davidwags6774
IsItJoshua? Faster than I could ever imagine . If your a young man all I can tell you is , hold on and enjoy the ride , I sure did .
@tourzrap
David Wags im 26 David, but feel about 50 lol. But, it’s just figuring out what I want to ‘do’ still. I want to do music, but don’t have the balls. I’m GOOD. I’m a good writer, but everything is so conveniently easily this day and age, it’s putting me off putting the hard work into anything. I think that’s like for a lot of people in their 20’s now. Wouldn’t call them ‘snowflakes’. I wanted to be in the airforce. However I think society has definitely designed this this way.
@annmcdonald6180
@@tourzrap best of luck in whatever you choose to do. I regret.not following.my dream, too late now.
@damien1166
I was 30 and at the time this came out my best friend died in an accident. Every time I hear Automatic I always think of him. Especially Man on the moon as I always look up and imagine him sat up there smiling down!
@bumble1612
How I love this song and lyrics. At 61 years of age now,it came on my radio at work today,quite literally stopped me in my tracks. I found a quiet corner to listen and take it in. I can't tell you how it brought memories flooding back,so emotional. Oh well, it's what great music does for the soul.
@davidargon6623
Yes.
@armcchargues8623
Same age, same effect on me. Was a little hard to breathe for a few minutes. This song transcends generations, as all great music does.
@JamesRBentley
I had just got my first weekend job cleaning tables in a department store restaurant. I would wake at 5 am on a Saturday, walk in the crisp air and wait for the bus. Once aboard, I hit play on my Walkman and heard this for the first time. Battling the tiredness that comes with rising at early light, my mind floated away as the world beyond the window melted into a blur. I was 16, and had a life changing crush on a girl that lived a road away from me. A few years later we became lovers, and then she broke my heart. And then many years later she introduced me to her friend, who became the love of my life, wife and mother to my son. When I think back all those years, images of places and people long gone flash by, just as the world did when I rode that bus listening to this song.