and the real meaning behind the song is ... one of Michael Stipe's housemates back in Athens (not sure if he was still in the school at the time) was a girl named Susan. susan used to come home happy-drunk a lot (as most college-age kids are want to do) and as she would ascend the stairs that led to her upstairs bedroom, she would guide herself along by saying "up the stairs, through the landing, up the stairs." I'm sure she didn't say it in the sing-song way that Stipe would make famous but that was the inspiration. And as for Marat? Yes, one of the roommates in the house had a copy of the painting hanging in the upstairs bathroom where, invariably, the housemate would end up sitting down to have a pee.
Some times we give Stipe too much credit. But then again, musically this song is beautiful. I have a 2 and a 4 year old at home and we sing it every time we march upstairs at night for bath and bed time.
and the real meaning behind the song is ... one of Michael Stipe's housemates back in Athens (not sure if he was still in the school at the time) was a girl named Susan. susan used to come home happy-drunk a lot (as most college-age kids are want to do) and as she would ascend the stairs that led to her upstairs bedroom, she would guide herself along by saying "up the stairs, through the landing, up the stairs." I'm sure she didn't say it in the sing-song way that Stipe would make famous but that was the inspiration. And as for Marat? Yes, one of the roommates in the house had a copy of the painting hanging in the upstairs bathroom where, invariably, the housemate would end up sitting down to have a pee.
Some times we give Stipe too much credit. But then again, musically this song is beautiful. I have a 2 and a 4 year old at home and we sing it every time we march upstairs at night for bath and bed time.