Chance Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Jeffreystump 

Cover art for Chance lyrics by R.E.M.

Would someone bright and musically knowledgable please please please interpret this song. I wanna know what it means, but I have no clue...and so far some guy named Chance liked it because of his name. Geesh! I'll toss in the cherry on top if you interpret it tonight:) Oh, that may be misinterpreted. Nevermind...

I think it's a personal ad or a "missed connection" on Craigslist. The song is structured to go through the days of the week (Friday bank card, Saturday slump, Sunday walk, Monday, Tuesday bloom, Wednesday grocery, Thursday cab rush), so every day of the week, this guy is seeing this other person, and he's written this down as a clue so they will recognise him.

The first line, "I loaned you a phone quarter", was my first clue. "Gave" and "loaned" have the same number of syllables, so both would musically work, but R.E.M. chose "loaned", showing listeners...

I agree with Avacyn completely. Chance details a series of supposed "chance meetings" that lead to an on-going romance of sorts, or at least a number of hook-ups. Avacyn is right again, when he/she says the couple live close to one another, or are staying in nearby hotels while in town temporarily. There is subtle humour in this tale, as well as a sense of urgency in the narrator's passion for the other person.