The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Some bands I like to name check,
And one of them is REM
Classic songs with a long history
Southern boys just like you and me
Are - E - M
Flashback to 1983
Chronic Town was their first EP
Later on came Reckoning
Finster's art, and titles to match:
South Central Rain, Don't Go Back To Rockville
Harbourcoat, Pretty Persuasion
You were born to be a camera
Time After Time was my least favourite song
Time After Time was my least favourite song
The singer, he had long hair
And the drummer he knew restrait
And the bass man he had all the right moves
And the guitar player was no saint
So lets go way back to the ancient times
When there were no 50 states
And on a hill there stands Sherman
Sherman and his mates
And they're marching through Georgia
We're marching through Georgia
We're marching through Georgia
G-g-g-g-georgia
They're marching through Georgia
We're marching through Georgia
Marching through Georgia
G-g-g-g-georgia
And there stands REM
Aye Sir, Aye Sir, Aye Sir they're coming, Aye Sir, move those wagons, Aye
Sir, Artillery's in place Sir, Aye Sir, Aye Sir, hide it, hide it, Aye
Sir, run, run
And one of them is REM
Classic songs with a long history
Southern boys just like you and me
Are - E - M
Flashback to 1983
Chronic Town was their first EP
Later on came Reckoning
Finster's art, and titles to match:
South Central Rain, Don't Go Back To Rockville
Harbourcoat, Pretty Persuasion
You were born to be a camera
Time After Time was my least favourite song
Time After Time was my least favourite song
The singer, he had long hair
And the drummer he knew restrait
And the bass man he had all the right moves
And the guitar player was no saint
So lets go way back to the ancient times
When there were no 50 states
And on a hill there stands Sherman
Sherman and his mates
And they're marching through Georgia
We're marching through Georgia
We're marching through Georgia
G-g-g-g-georgia
They're marching through Georgia
We're marching through Georgia
Marching through Georgia
G-g-g-g-georgia
And there stands REM
Aye Sir, Aye Sir, Aye Sir they're coming, Aye Sir, move those wagons, Aye
Sir, Artillery's in place Sir, Aye Sir, Aye Sir, hide it, hide it, Aye
Sir, run, run
Lyrics submitted by summerbabe
Unseen Power of the Picket Fence Lyrics as written by Stephen Joseph Malkmus
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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'Time after time is my least favourite song' is a great line.
I read on a site somewhere, I thought it was this one, that the song was comparing REM to the Southerner's stand at pickett's mill. I'm inclined to agree with this. The idea was that while REM were a pop band, they stood up against the overwhelming number of crappy mainstream pop acts which prevail over more exciting and creative bands. The analogy used is the stand at Pickett's Mill where the people stood up against the dominant forces which ultimately prevailed.
There's a clue in the line 'southern boys just like you and me, REM.'
However, Malkus is against such North/south divides like the north/south divide in california which is what the song Unfair is about. (He explains this is the sleeve notes for LA's Desert origins.) Also I believe Malkmus is from the North.
I don't really have any answers. I just wanted to share these thoughts.