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."
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.