Finest Worksong

"Throw Thoreau and rearrange" is a reference to transcendentalist and author of "Walden" Henry David Thoreau who shunned work and society by living in a cabin in the woods for two years.

Also Thoreau was all about non-conformity "I beg you not beg to rhyme"

Then, the two lines I quoted seem to contradict eacother but maybe that will get a discussion started.

"Throw Thoreau and rearrange"-- don't withdraw, engage.

I think it is simply a testament to the fact that many jobs must be completed, and there is no fanfare for them. It is the statement that most people are unsung heroes in their daily occupational lives. If you look at the majority of jobs that people endeavor to complete or maintain, the fact is that almost all are neccesary to civilization as we know it. There is a quote from the movie 'Caddyshack' where one of the Snobs(Judge Smails) says to one of the Slobs(Danny Noonan) "The world needs Ditchdiggers, too". I get the feeling that this song just celebrates the fact that most people's finest hour just goes on by without notice, and is just considered "Business as usual" The very passionate lyric of "Blow your horn" literally screams at you to appreciate your function in society.

In the immortal words of Dennis Miller; "That's just my opinion, I could be wrong"

I agree with the revolution theory ("rearrange"). However, I am thinking about the following phrase : "You're better best to rearrange"

What did he mean with it ? Did he mean to stop Reagan's attacks on the social systems before everything is lost or did he mean that a revolution always turns into a bloody contra-revolution if it gets lost ? Did he mean that IF you make a revolution you'll have to forget your fears and to fight with all your power and passion to avoid a flashback to the old order ?

Oh, and to add to the previous comment, I don't believe that R.E.M. consider this "The Finest Worksong". I think this is even more accurately ironic, as I feel that "The Finest Worksong" lyric is subjective, and left to be decided by each listener as to what that song is, hence listening to "The Finest Worksong" does not mean this song. What song motivates you to git-r-done? That is The Finest Worksong! IMHO, of course.

Off-topic from the previous posts (which seem to have the meaning well-covered) but this is one of the few R.E.M. songs that I knew all the lyrics to before I looked at this page! So many of them, I'm like: "what the hell is he saying?"

I could be totally off-base here, but I always thought the song was kinda like Chicago's "Twenty-five or -six to Four": a song about trying to write a song ... which, if you think about it, doesn't contradict much of what any of y'all are saying, either ...

And I agree: horn version was better.

I think this song is political, in the partisan sense. About how so many people, poorer people are convinced to vote against their own interests. "Take your instinct by the reins You'd better best to rearrange What we want and what we need Has been confused, been confused" He's saying what you've been convinced is in your interest, is actually not. That Kind of sums it up, I think.

“What we want and what we need Has been confused, been confused.”

These lines are the key to the song, They speak to occupations that are “valued” or “admired”, or “liked” in society - Rock Star, Movie Star, politician - versus what most of us “receive” in exchange for our TIME, which is money, and nothing else, no praise, no appreciation, you’re considered lucky that you even have a job, so STFU.

Dissatisfaction with authority and possibly capitalism?