very simply, this song is about American foreign policy back in the 1980's, particularly in Latin America. Exploitation colonialism, in the name of corporate capitalism, has always been the nom du jour for stated American foreign policy. But no one ever calls it that. Today, of course, it's easily understood (why do you think every call you make to a help desk is answered by some one in India??) But back at the time this song was written (1984) this wasn't so self-evident. It was to Michael (stipe) though.
Stay off that highway
word is it's not so safe
grasses that hide the greenback
the amber waves of gain again
the amber waves of gaaaaaain.
Lastly, this song - or at least its main theme - was re-written on REM's last album as "I Wanted To Be Wrong."
very simply, this song is about American foreign policy back in the 1980's, particularly in Latin America. Exploitation colonialism, in the name of corporate capitalism, has always been the nom du jour for stated American foreign policy. But no one ever calls it that. Today, of course, it's easily understood (why do you think every call you make to a help desk is answered by some one in India??) But back at the time this song was written (1984) this wasn't so self-evident. It was to Michael (stipe) though.
Stay off that highway word is it's not so safe grasses that hide the greenback the amber waves of gain again
the amber waves of gaaaaaain.
Lastly, this song - or at least its main theme - was re-written on REM's last album as "I Wanted To Be Wrong."
That's the impression I got too.
That's the impression I got too.
@peacefrogx Only when the tables begin to slide, will people decide that the things they took for granted, can never be made up for in answers
@peacefrogx Only when the tables begin to slide, will people decide that the things they took for granted, can never be made up for in answers