Diminished Lyrics

Lyric discussion by PencilNeckedGeek 

Cover art for Diminished lyrics by R.E.M.

This song always reminds me of John Knowles' "A Separate Peace." In this book, the protagonist narrator is a lonely prep school student befriended by an incredibly charismatic and athletic guy. The narrator develops a jealousy for the friend's endless capabilities and effortless charm, and, in a fit of misguided "justice," causes his friend to fall out of a tree. For the rest of the book, the narrator suffers deep-rooted guilt and self-loathing. This song matches the book's tone perfectly.