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Walk Unafraid Lyrics

as the sun comes up, as the moon
goes down
these heavy notions creep around
it makes me think
long ago I was brought into
this life a little lamb
a little lamb
courageous, stumbling
fearless was my middle name.
but somewhere there I
lost my way
everyone walks the same
expecting me to step
the narrow path they've laid
they claim to
walk unafraid
I'll be clumsy instead
hold my love me or leave me
high.

say "keep within the boundaries if you want
to play."
say "contradiction only makes it harder."
how can I be
what I want to be?
when all I want to do is strip away
these stilled constraints
and crush this charade
shred this sad masquerade
I don't need no persuading
I'll trip, fall, pick myself up and
walk unafraid
I'll be clumsy instead
hold my love me or leave me
high.

if I have a bag of rocks to carry as I go
I just want to hold my head up high
I don't care what I have to step over
I'm prepared to look you in the eye
look me in the eye
and if you see familiarity
then celebrate the contradiction
help me when I fall to
walk unafraid
I'll be clumsy instead
hold my love me or leave me
high.
walk unafraid
I'll be clumsy instead
hold my love me or leave me
high.
17 Meanings

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Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

To me, this song is about owning up to your faults and not being afraid to fail and stumble. Very inspirational. And as already said, this live version of this song is amazing.

http://www.freewebs.com/thejakesite

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

I apply this song in my life as saying that as a Christian, I see other Christians who walk as if their life is easier since they became a Christian and so they walk unafraid. not me, I feel my life has been worse since I became a Christian. It makes life harder and it's struggle to even attempt to follow Christ on a daily basis. So instead of walking unafraid, I'll "be clumbsy instead" yet still pursuing Christ. life is hard and even as a Christ Follower, it's even harder.

I know that may not be the original meaning of the song but it's a song that I use on a daily basis in my journey of faith.

Song Meaning

Nice. Thanks for sharing. :) I can see the commonality between the verse and the faith walk. The Christian faith is a journey, so keep walking unafraid.

The figure of the "little lamb" in the first verse came back to me when I listened to Neon Horse's lyrics on their two albums. Namely, the "little lamb so far away from home."

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

I love this song. it's about being yourself and not who people push you to be. and by being yourself you show others they can be themselves too and that being different is a good thing.

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

My Take:

Stipe grew up in the Deep South, in an extremely religious part of the country. I have no doubt believing that he went to church as a child whether he wanted to or not. As a result a seemingly strict lifestyle was laid out for him to follow (hence the narrow path, which he would ultimately refrain or depart from later on —— most likely in his teens or early 20’s).

This narrow path of expectations had been laid out for him according to strict rules, regulations, and guidelines by the church. But when he got older he realized he couldn’t be himself and also follow these strict rules, regulations, and guidelines. These was a huge discrepancy there that he needed to come to terms with.

And so I honestly believe this is about Stipe abandoning his faith as a result of all of these things. Other clues allude to this also —— the reference to the little lamb is another giveaway.

Anyway, the notion of losing one’s faith has been an on-again, off-again theme for this band through the years.

Interestingly, go back to New Adventures in Hi-Fi and listen to New Test Leper. He makes a reference to Christians as ‘His lambs’ (“…have His lambs all gone astray…”?) ….. And here again we see another example of Christ’s children being referred to as lambs. Which is a Biblical reference (I.e. —- The story or parable of The Lost Sheep)

[Edit: Additional]

Subjective
Negative
Sadness
Religion
Faith
Identity
Rebellion
Self-discovery
Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

cool song when you've been let down, failed or are feeling shitty. picks you up and makes you want to continue with life.

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

following your heart instead of doing what people want or expect of you.

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

This is my favorite R.E.M song. I love it. Its about stumbling and stuffing up, then getting up and moving on. It could also be about individuality.

Everybody who like R.E.M must get their "Perfect Circle" DVD which is their live performance in Germany. The live performance of this song is staggering.

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

perfect square swizz..........

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

This is my anthem!

This song keeps me strong some days when I doubt myself, god, what I would do without this band!!

Cover art for Walk Unafraid lyrics by R.E.M.

I think that the first two lines are a reference to "Cadillac Walk", a 1977 hit for Mink DeVille, which begins like this: "As the moon comes up and the sun goes down, Rita starts to creep around".