The One I Love Lyrics

Lyric discussion by practicaljoker 

Cover art for The One I Love lyrics by R.E.M.

This is a song about a pyromaniac who built a stage prop, didn't like it, burned it down and built another.

OR

A guy who left behind a heroin addicted lover after discovering that he really didn't care for her or doing drugs any more. The chorus "Fire (She's coming down on her own, now)" means he left her to deal with her heroin withdrawls on her own. Unfortunately this guys seems to repeat his pattern of getting into these types of relationships as he moves on to another one and goes through the same thing.

Just a practical interpretation by a joker.

My Interpretation