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.
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.