Until The Day Is Done

R.E.M. put two quotes with the lyrics of this song.

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." -Sinclair Lewis

"Thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams. Thanks for the American dream to vulgarize and falsity until the bare lies shine through." -William Burroughs

These quotes also point that the song is about the state of the United States, and fit with the album's theme of a dystopian society created by governmental actions.

I think its about the state of america, and more accurately its foreign policy in recent years. The first verse is clearly about Iraq; 'the business first class' who are licking their wounds are perhaps the oilmen and construction companies who were intially excited about the invasion as they saw the chance to get rich. 'The countrys in ruins' is clearly Iraq too. I take the second verse to be about the US itself; the 'easyspeak message' is the language we use knowadays (terror etc) . 'The notions of glory and bull market gain' is surely about the ridiculous idea that to many the country is doing well so long at the stock market is on the rise, completely ignoring the real problems in the economy.

No doubt that it's about the harm done to the US and it's people by the Bush admin. The album notes differ "Providence blinked, facing the SON". A typo or a clever play on words ? Providence = a manifestation of God's foresightful care for His creatures. Is God shocked by his own creation ! "What have I done?" Or is this the deceived voter who must suffer under this ruler "Until the day is done". A great song.

I disagree EvilVulture: it is drawing attention to the irony of wanting to protect your own babies by killing other people's babies.

Oh dear, Rush. You are as deluded as your namesake. Just to nix your little fantasy in the bud, I should point out that Accelerate was released in March of 2008 which is quite a few months before Mr. Obama was even elected, and I'd imagine that the song itself was written somewhat before the album was released. Probably about the time Chimpy McBush was stumbling over his teleprompter lines whilst adhering to his favored ideology of "bull-market gains".

Quite apart from which, R.E.M. are well known for their liberal and progressive political stance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.E.M.#Campaigning_and_activism

But don't despair, you've still got guiding lights like Kid Rock on your team. LMFAO.

"Forgive us our trespasses, father and son" - while could simply be a prayer on behalf of America, could certainly be a reference to GHWB and GWB administrations and their horrible decisions to wage war with Iraq....

This song sounds to me like a cross between 'Working Class Hero' by John Lennon, and 'Masters of War' by Bob Dylan - both lyrically and musically.

they played this over a video during the secret policeman's ball yesterday (the amnesty international annual showtypething.)

One of Michael Stipe's more biting political critiques. Along with Skynyrd, the Black Crowes and U2, R.E.M. WILL REMAIN A POLITICAL BAND!

MICHAEL STIPE, WHERE ARE YOU NOW? We need lyrics like this now more than even in the Bush years.