R.E.M.

A call to action and self-empowerment, with intentionally simplistic lyrics.

Peter Buck found the main musical idea while experimenting with a mandolin he was learning to play. A recording of that session preserved the riff. Michael Stipe's words explore longing and disillusionment rather...

Ironic take on forced positivity

Drive appears on R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People. This is an album-context identification, not an inferred explanation of personal motivation.

A comforting song about universal pain and the importance of perseverance.

Find the River appears on R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People. This is an album-context identification, not an inferred explanation of personal motivation.

Man on the Moon appears on R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People. This is an album-context identification, not an inferred explanation of personal motivation.

Nightswimming appears on R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People. This is an album-context identification, not an inferred explanation of personal motivation.

The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite appears on R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People. This is an album-context identification, not an inferred explanation of personal motivation.

Based on an incident involving CBS news anchor Dan Rather.

The artificiality of modern life and media