We Walk

and the real meaning behind the song is ... one of Michael Stipe's housemates back in Athens (not sure if he was still in the school at the time) was a girl named Susan. susan used to come home happy-drunk a lot (as most college-age kids are want to do) and as she would ascend the stairs that led to her upstairs bedroom, she would guide herself along by saying "up the stairs, through the landing, up the stairs." I'm sure she didn't say it in the sing-song way that Stipe would make famous but that was the inspiration. And as for Marat? Yes, one of the roommates in the house had a copy of the painting hanging in the upstairs bathroom where, invariably, the housemate would end up sitting down to have a pee.

Some times we give Stipe too much credit. But then again, musically this song is beautiful. I have a 2 and a 4 year old at home and we sing it every time we march upstairs at night for bath and bed time.

Marat, forget his last name, was murdered in his bathtub, way back when.

This song is so macabre it makes me shiver. Google "marat bathing" and you will find a terrifying pre-impressionism era painting of a guy named Marat dead in a bathtub filled with bloody water. I find that the mood of the song is at the same time accepting and defiant of death and the fact that life sucks so bad that people would want to die. Or it could be that they just got off on the juxtaposition of the playful, sing-song melody with such a horrific tragedy. Kind of like: how can we even have moments of pure mirth when we know things like that have happened and still happen on a day to day basis? Kudos again R.E.M.

Jean-Paul Marat was one of the radical Jacobin leaders of the French Revolution, and was an essential figure involved in developing the Reign of Terror. He was stabbed to death while lying in his bathtub by Charlotte Corday, who was a supporter of the Girondist faction. The most famous painting of the Revolution, which depicts a murdered Marat in his tub, was made by Jacques-Louis David.

As for its relation to the song, I'm not really sure. Maybe someone commits the same crime, leaves the building and runs (walks) for it through the woods. Whatever it means, it reminds me of my brother. R.E.M. is one of his favorite bands, and this is his favorite song by them.

at the beginning of the song--and perhaps elsewhere, but not as obvious--can you hear that sound? like a soft explosion?

it's the sound of billiard balls colliding, with the tape played back at a very slow speed. (Mitch Easter has a gift for finding those little distinctive touches, even on a small budget.)

Anyone else ever notice how many emo bands seem to rip this song off musically?

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