Lyric discussion by mgmyers79 

Cover art for Try Not To Breathe lyrics by R.E.M.

Suicide? Old people? Hmmmm...this song is very special for me, because it's a remembering spell. I was abused long time ago and blocked it out, completely repressed good and bad memories from the time. This song is a reflection, a song to be sung to the Self, not to somebody else. Like most awesome poets, Stipe sings to himself occassionally, and in doing so he asks the listener to become the singer and sing to their Self as well.

Song Meaning