World Leader Pretend Lyrics

Lyric discussion by DF Ash 

Cover art for World Leader Pretend lyrics by R.E.M.

I always took it as a Cold War song, about building up nations only to have to turn around and fight them (that "Orange Crush," from the same album, dealt with Vietnam only furthered the idea). But there's definitely a melancholy to the song that makes sense if it's more psychological, about fighting through your own defenses.