When the song, album was first published, I recall reading Stipe's explanation of the song and it's overall tone. He stated that it was basically a summation of his discomfort with the region as a whole; from it's culture to all of the many things it represents. There was also something about his fear of earthquakes and how the looming threat of one always weighed on his mind when he was there. As with so many REM songs, at least from the pre 1990 years, the tone of the song is accentuated by snippets of imagery and rough sketch lyrics. A lovely song.
When the song, album was first published, I recall reading Stipe's explanation of the song and it's overall tone. He stated that it was basically a summation of his discomfort with the region as a whole; from it's culture to all of the many things it represents. There was also something about his fear of earthquakes and how the looming threat of one always weighed on his mind when he was there. As with so many REM songs, at least from the pre 1990 years, the tone of the song is accentuated by snippets of imagery and rough sketch lyrics. A lovely song.