I'm starting to think this is autobiographical (no, really) and that Stipe is apologizing that REM sort of lost their way on UP, Reveal and Around The Sun and that he was hollow because he couldn't find much to say recently that was meaningful or true to himself ("for saying things I didn't mean and don't believe"). And he's thanking fans for sticking with them despite this: "you had placed your trust in me, I went upside down", "I can't believe you held your ground", "you trusted me, I want to show you", etc.
And "I emptied out the room in 30 seconds flat" reflects REM's popularity dropping.
But then again, it could just be to 1 person in his life instead of all of us.
I'm starting to think this is autobiographical (no, really) and that Stipe is apologizing that REM sort of lost their way on UP, Reveal and Around The Sun and that he was hollow because he couldn't find much to say recently that was meaningful or true to himself ("for saying things I didn't mean and don't believe"). And he's thanking fans for sticking with them despite this: "you had placed your trust in me, I went upside down", "I can't believe you held your ground", "you trusted me, I want to show you", etc. And "I emptied out the room in 30 seconds flat" reflects REM's popularity dropping. But then again, it could just be to 1 person in his life instead of all of us.