This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Hello, I saw you, I know you, I knew you
I think I can remember your name, name
Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else
Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)
Hello, how are you, I know you, I knew you
I think I can remember your name, name
Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else
Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)
Hello, my friend, are you visible today?
You know I never knew that it could be so strange, strange
Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else
Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)
Hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
I think I can remember your name, name
Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else
Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)
Hello, how are you, I know you, I knew you
I think I can remember your name, name
Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else
Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)
Hello, my friend, are you visible today?
You know I never knew that it could be so strange, strange
Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
I think I thought you were someone else
Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)
Hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst
Pop Song 89 Lyrics as written by Peter Buck Bill Berry
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Mumf is right on. This definitely points out the shallowness of pop music and celebrity culture. It's all forgetable - the song is just a number. The people are faces, with meaningless conversation, tons of introductions but no substance. You meet them once and then forget, same as you hear a pop song for a few weeks and then it's gone.
The song came out in 1988 on the album Green. Apparently it was the 89th song they released.
pop music sucks...let's rejoice in Michael's sarcasm
I heard somewhere that this song is all about a guy trying to talk to a girl at ap arty. Sort of makes sense when you look at the lyrics.
I agree with whoever said that this song is about a guy trying to talk to a girl. It seems like that to me.
Has anyone heard the acoustic version on disc 2 of In Time? It's pretty good.
The lyrics in this song (and the way they're set out) are a reference to "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors.
In "Hello, I Love You" Jim Morrison sees a beautiful girl and wants to go over and declare his love for her beauty. In this song, Stipe theorizes of talking to the girl about politics and weather instead of focussing on outward beauty.
The song is supposed to be a generic pop song, and the lyrics are written to show that. Great idea, great song.
freewebs.com/thejakesite
Did this song come out in 1989? I am surprised this song didn't propel these guys to stardom. It's a much more poppy tune than "Losing My Religion". If the first poster is right, then my sentiment would turn the irony back on REM.
:)
Actually it came out in 1988. Its called "Pop Song 89" because it was the 89th song R.E.M. commercially released.
Yea, its pretty much mocking our society and the values that we place on relationships that turn out to be purely physical and have no deeper meaning at all.