music | r – r.e.m. #atozchallenge

Posted on 21 April 2017 by what sandra thinks
#atozchallenge 2017 | music | what sandra thinks
[Disclaimer: I am not a musician. I can sing. I remember most of the recital piece I played on the piano when I was 6. But I’m not a musician. I know what I like and what I don’t like and what will likely be the soundtrack when I arrive in hell.]

• • •

r | r.e.m.

It was going to be Radiohead. But… an R.E.M. song helped me through some seriously scary emotional moments in my life. As close as the phrase ‘everybody hurts’ is to a fucking cliché, it pulled me out of the depths… at least enough that I’m still here… because there was a chance things could have gone very differently.

When I listen to this song, on repeat, obviously, I hear ‘don’t give up’ and ‘hold on‘ way more than ‘this happens to everyone’. The latter makes me think… who the fuck cares about everyone else? When I’m in my own personal hell, that’s not comforting. Clearly, others know how to handle those feelings… while I do not. But hearing someone tell me not to give up… to hang on… that makes me feel like someone cares. Even if it is Michael Stipe who doesn’t know me personally nor do I know him… (though I have seen R.E.M. live several times).

Over the years, I’ve listened to R.E.M. less and less. But this song will always mean something more… and always remain in rotation, even if less frequently. Sometimes I need it… because I still have moments of hopelessness and a lack of any constant in my life that tells me to hold on… on demand.

I would be remiss not to also link Fall On Me… and Losing My Religion… two of my favorites.

• • •

When your day is long
And the night
The night is yours alone
When you’re sure you’ve had enough
Of this life
Well hang on
Don’t let yourself go
‘Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it’s time to sing along
When your day is night alone (hold on)
(Hold on) if you feel like letting go (hold on)
If you think you’ve had too much
Of this life
Well, hang on

‘Cause everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don’t throw your hand
Oh, no
Don’t throw your hand
If you feel like you’re alone
No, no, no, you’re not alone

If you’re on your own
In this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you’ve had too much
Of this life
To hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
So, hold on, hold on…

[lyrics slightly edited for repeated lines in the interest of shortening this post…]

wave
other r artists worth a listen
Radiohead — I know it’s the one everybody knows… but it’s easily one of the best songs of all time… Creep. But you should also listen to… Fake Plastic Trees
Replacements, The — I previously posted The Last… but also… Achin’ To Be
Ride — This one song… I love it so much… Vapour Trail
Rick Springfield — definitely a guilty pleasure… Jessie’s Girl

song of the day
#atozchallenge | music
© 2017 what sandra thinks
[I am not the owner of any rights to the music (song, lyrics, video) featured in this post…]

About what sandra thinks

Sandra is a writer, sometimes blogger, poet, artist, emotional disaster. She thinks far too much and sleeps far too little. Sandra lives in the Northeastern U.S. but dreams of an oceanfront home in Italy, but she would settle for a non-oceanfront home in Italy. She loves books, brutal honesty, coffee, and the color black. She hates insincerity, beer, whipped cream, and facebook. And she is uncomfortable talking about herself in the third person.
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28 Responses to music | r – r.e.m. #atozchallenge

  1. Meg Sorick says:
    21 April 2017 at 4:37 pm

    Love r.e.m. and they are amazing live. The Replacements too. Great choices!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. sonofabeach96 says:
    21 April 2017 at 5:31 pm

    Now that you said that, I find I don’t listen to R.E.M. as often as I used to either. I was a huge fan my senior year of high school and freshman year of college, ’85-’86’. Still like them, a lot, but not like back then. I just assumed you’d do Radiohead for this one. 😃

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. D. Wallace Peach says:
    21 April 2017 at 7:10 pm

    I like REM. Music is really powerful, Sandra. For me, it always takes me back to the time in my life when I heard it. I’ve never read the lyrics. They’re powerful. Thanks for the listen 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. ladieswholunchreviews says:
    21 April 2017 at 8:51 pm

    Good choices! Love REM, I’ve listened to them more lately than I did back in the day. Rick Springfield, that makes me smile. Dr. Drake 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Miriam says:
    22 April 2017 at 2:14 am

    I used to play and sing this on my guitar when I was down. Loved REM.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Lennon Carlyle says:
    23 April 2017 at 9:27 am

    Sigh….I can remember wearing my flannel shirt, ripped jeans, and combat boots the first time I heard this song. By far, my favorite REM song. Moves me to hear it again. Great choice Sandra!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. KatieComeBack says:
    3 May 2017 at 8:47 am

    Night Swimming….love that one

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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