Radio Free Europe Lyrics

Lyric discussion by WingedWolf 

Cover art for Radio Free Europe lyrics by R.E.M.

Radio Free Europe does indeed broadcast news to countries that lack a free press, or have an undeveloped press.

One of its original purposes was to provide news and an outlet for refugees, and knowing this makes this song make more sense.

"Calling all in transit" - "Straight off the boat, where to go?" "keep me out of country"

Much of it sounds like broken English, like something Babelfish might spit out...or something a refugee with poor English might say.

"Instead of pushing palaces to fall" - Radio Free Europe was created to encourage the people in these countries to rise up and take over their government in order to secure their freedom. It is the 'defying media', and it defies the media of the countries it is broadcast to.

The song wasn't meant to have a clear meaning, and it's very open-ended, but it is clearly talking about the actual Radio Free Europe.

Song Meaning