Monty Got A Raw Deal

To me this song is in part about Montgomery Clift's life.

At the same time I think it's about much more than this. The song just uses Montgomery Clift as an example of a life

where mischief/nonsense has struck. Where unjust things take place. As the song says Monty Got a Raw Deal. But the song

is just using Montgomery Clift's life as one example of a life where unjust things have taken place. This is something that

happens to all of us in all our lives ... some more than others. Stipe's advice is to "just let go," "hold your tongue," to not

"waste time" and to "not waste our breath." The latter phrase in particular is great. By advising us not to waste our breath,

I think Stipe is basically saying not to waste our lives dwelling on these injustices. Shit happens. But this is inevitable and

often times we make a bad situation even worse. So don't waste time, don't waste your breath, live.

Another good phrase is "you don't owe me anything." To me what this phrase means is that life doesn't owe us anything.

Life doesn't owe us anything. Bad things may happen, good things may happen. But be aware, Stipe seems to be saying,

life doesn't owe us anything and we shouldn't act (ever) as if life owes us something. Having that kind of attitude only

causes us to eventually/inevitably "waste our breath" and diminishes the quality of our lives.