Loosing my religion
R.E.M. (REM) Lyrics
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It's bigger
Than you and you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees, failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around?
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
Try, cry
Why try?
That was just a dream, just a dream, just a dream
Dream
The lyrics to R.E.M.’s Losing My Religion describes a tumultuous relationship where the singer is in love with someone who doesn’t return his affections. Life is portrayed as being bigger than just the unrequited love and while the singer is willing to go to great lengths to keep up, he is reminded of the vast distance that exists between himself and the object of his love. Despite trying, he realizes that he has said too much or maybe not enough, indicating that his advances have been fruitless. The singer expresses vulnerability and weakness by confessing to his innermost thoughts in a desperate attempt to keep an eye on the person he loves. However, this saddens him as he doesn’t want to be seen as a hurt, lost, and blinded fool. The chorus emphasizes the theme of unrequited love, with the singer feeling as if he’s under the spotlight, losing his religion in the desperate pursuit of someone unattainable.
The song title “Losing My Religion” is an American southern colloquialism, which in essence means losing one’s temper or being at the end of one’s rope. Despite this, the actual reference to religion in the song is minimal. Michael Stipe, R.E.M.’s lead singer, admitted that the song’s title is a play on the Southern colloquialism and has nothing to do with religion.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is bigger
Life is complex and vast.
It's bigger
It's bigger than us or anything we can control.
And you, you are not me
We are separate individuals.
The lengths that I will go to
I will do whatever it takes.
The distance in your eyes
There's emotional distance between us.
Oh no, I've said too much
I've revealed too much about myself.
I set it up
I made it happen.
That's me in the corner
I'm isolated and vulnerable.
That's me in the spotlight
I'm under scrutiny and pressure.
Losing my religion
I'm losing my faith or belief system.
Trying to keep up with you
I'm striving to keep pace with your expectations or standards.
And I don't know if I can do it
I don't know if I'm capable of meeting those expectations.
I haven't said enough
There's more I need to say or reveal.
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought you were happy without me.
I thought that I heard you sing
I thought you were content without me.
I think I thought I saw you try
I believed you were making an effort to include me in your life.
Every whisper
Every sound, gesture or hint.
Of every waking hour
All the time I'm awake and aware.
I'm choosing my confessions
I'm deciding what to reveal about myself.
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool
I'm vulnerable and confused, like someone who's been hurt before.
Consider this
Think about this, pay attention to this.
The hint of the century
The most important clue of the time.
The slip that brought me
The mistake that caused my downfall.
To my knees failed
It didn't have the intended effect of humbling or defeating me.
What if all these fantasies
What if all of these dreams and wishes were to come true.
Come flailing around
Would they whirl around or overwhelm me?
But that was just a dream
But none of that is actually real.
Try, cry, why, try
Words that rhyme and emphasize the effort and emotion involved in this situation.
Just a dream, just a dream, just a dream
It's not reality, it's just a figment of my imagination.
Dream
The overarching theme of the song - the dreams and illusions we hold on to, and the reality we face when they fade away.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: William Thomas Berry, Peter Lawrence Buck, Michael E. Mills, John Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cl.kevi4419
"Losing My Religion"
Oh life, it's bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this, the hint of the century
Consider this, the slip
That brought me to my knees, failed
What if all these fantasies come
Flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
Try, cry, why try
That was just a dream
Just a dream
Just a dream, dream
LIKE>>>>>
@juanmiguelcantuba8133
Oh life, it's bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this, the hint of the century
Consider this, the slip
That brought me to my knees, failed
What if all these fantasies come
Flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
Try, cry, why try
That was just a dream
Just a dream
Just a dream, dream
@riccardomangiaracina
Lyrics
Oh life, is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spot-light
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper, of every waking hour
I'm choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this, the hint of the century
Consider this the slip
That brought me to my knees, failed
What if all these fantasies come
Flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spot-light
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
Try, cry, fly, try
That was just a dream
Just a dream
Just a dream, dream
@mariomena8614
Lyrics: "Losing My Religion" - REM.
Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour
I'm choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this the hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees, failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
Try, cry, why try?
That was just a dream
Just a dream, just a dream, dream. END.
@natliekla
My dad passed away yesterday and now I'm making a playlist with all the songs he loved and I remember him by. This is one of them. Thank you dad for showing me the greatest artists of all times. Loved, missed and never forgotten 🤘🔥❤️
@klaratgrs7528
Rip🙏
@joshlewis575
Dread that day, stay strong. Don't know if your dad liked r&b but "dance with my father again " by Luther vandross is a great dad song.
@mukulmehra8
Peace be upon him
@dillon0829
I’m so sorry to hear that. Btw I just saw you commented on Every Breath You take. What a coincidence
@nycsteak9597
I’ve been there. I also made a playlist of my dad’s favourite songs. It’s been a yr. I miss him everyday. Sending virtual hugs!
@juliedeed1306
31 years ago I bought my newborn son home from the hospital, this was the song playing when I switched MTV on, I sang the whole thing while feeding him. Now everytime I hear this song it reminds me of my firstborn son who is now a grown man with his own house, lovely memories x
@nurpiet
thanks for sharing that beautiful memory julie.
music is truly humanity's greatest invention and connector.
@user-ek8qi3qz5i
Wow, didn't realize it was released that long ago! Time is escalating faster and faster!
@bradj977
I was gonna like this, but you have 69 likes and that's nearly as beautiful as your comment ❤️