REM song "Losing My Religion" a pro-New-Age-Illuminati-Religion song?

[stanteau]

I just started listening and I got some weird interpretations from the lyrics, now I didn't write it so it could be about the dude's dog but....

I only wish to comment on a few lines but will post the whole song uncase someone else finds something

"Life is bigger
It's bigger than you"

Pro-NWO?

"And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up"

Nothin much there

"That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight"

Illumination?

"Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you"

Being exposed to the lies of common faith and being confused?

"And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try"

Nothin much I can see

"Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up"

Once again, giving up your choices to a higher power (S. Society)?

"Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around"

Destruction of our current model to be reborn?

"Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
That was just a dream"

You can find a meaning yourself

[humbug]

any piece of music based on the circle of Vs is pro illuminati* to begin with:whatthe:

*creators of false models that have nothing to do with anything, often used by the vain for compensation

[Weyland]

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1256

:crazy:

Losing My Religion
by
R.E.M.
Album: Out Of Time Released: 1991
US Chart: 4 UK Chart: 19
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Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
The title is a Southern expression meaning "At my wit's end," as if things were going so bad you could lose your faith in God. If you were "Losing your religion" over a person, It could also mean losing faith in that person. (thanks, doug - chicago, IL)
This won the Grammy in 1991 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
The video was the first to show lead singer Michael Stipe dancing. The director hung out with the band to get ideas, and when he saw Stipe's spastic dance style, he thought it would look great in the video.
The band claims this is not about religion, although the video is full of religious imagery. Some Catholic groups protested the video.
In 2003, Stipe told Entertainment Weekly, "Losing My Religion was a fluke hit. It was a 5 minute song with no chorus and a mandolin as the lead instrument. So for us to hold that as the bar we have to jump over every time we write a song would be ridiculous."
The video is based in part on Gabriel Garcia Marquez' A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings. The novel tells the story about an angel who falls down from heaven and how the people who make money displaying him as a "freak show." (thanks, Gabriela - Santiago, Chile)
Stipe (in Rolling Stone magazine): "I wanted to write a classic obsession song. So I did." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
People who dig this song also like "Comfortably Numb" "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"
Get Artistfacts for R.E.M.
More songs by R.E.M.
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Emusic - 25 Free Songs
Comments:
Actually Stipe danced in the Pop Song 89 Video clip barechest with two ladies (barechest as well...)
- Yannick, Montreal, QC
With the grunge revolution lurking just over the horizon, R.E.M., pioneers of alt rock, burst into the mainstream. Sparking dozens of conversations about its meaning, "Losing My Religion" is, in its most basic sense, a gorgeous folk-influenced pop tune about the feeling of going crazy. It is understated and unforgettable.
- Bertrand, Paris, France
i dont care what it mean to other people. to me it means the way of losing a religion one found out is not gods but mens way. every line of this song fits my feelings perfectly. strong faith and the disappointment when everything your life is based on is actually rubbish, but you just cant leave, because you would lose all your loved ones, be an evil sinner, everyone talks about you, looks down on you, getting judged for following your conscience. done believe, try to keep up... now ive said too much. i havent said enough. thats my personal meaning. it makes me cry.
- marc, Berlin, Germany
I went to high school with Stipe. We lived in a small illinois farming community. Our high school served three towns. I think the song expresses what it was like for him, a world wise air force brat, having to deal with the small town mentality in the bible belt.
- kathy, st. louis, United States
I heard this when I was 9 and I've loved it since. I think it's about trying to fit in and sacraficing yourself in order to do so. Our system works in a way that makes everyone uncomfortable with themselves. They try and change who they are and what they believe to fit with the image that the media feed to mindless sheep. Hey, I'm usually wrong about stuff like this. But I like to think I'm right.
- Thomas, Londonion, England
The "artists" don't always reveal what the song is written about. Sometimes they seem to want to leave it open to interpretation. Like this one. The video is plain weird. But the music and the mandolin make it interesting - and good. This video, from the first few seconds, was about homosexuality, I have no doubt about that. The first indication of this being about sexual orientation comes when the male figure comes up behind Stipes and caresses his shoulders (no, I don't think it was a simple, casual rub and even if it were, how many hetero guys give their mates shoulder massages, even one ever so brief?) The coming up from behind is symbolic of, well, it's rather obvious.
- Niall, Cornwall, United States
I just love this song..there is a sense of desperation about it.
- BEth, pittsburgh, PA
just a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine told that the song is about getting so drunk en throw up,losing your religion!
- dave, den bosch, Netherlands
Well it looks as though every meaning in the world's been tossed out for this song--so...I'm just gonna say that R.E.M. are a beautiful group of people and this is a pretty darn good song.
- Shelby, the other side , United States
I go with the southern expression, and yet another song about one day being nobody, and the next day dealing with fame. I think the guy with the teacher:pupil comment is confusing the song with "Don't Stand so Close to Me," by the Police. I'm quite fond of the expressions "Losing my religion", and "Not everyone can cary the weight of the world."
- Gregmon, Intelbuquerque, NM
i think this song is dependant on the audience- you make a song personal to yourself and you try and relate it to your life in some way if it brings out emotion in you. For me personally i believe the song is about lovers, about losing someone you really care about, wanting to be with them but it being impossible. So many things unsaid but you have talked too much already. I believe that 'losing my religion' means losing faith in things you once held to be so true and close to heart.
- lindsay trumper, darlington, England
This song is about a lot of things, every song is. It means to us what it means to us, no matter the emotional origin. Yes, beautiful Tori covered this and it works depending on the mood.
- Danci, treetown, OK
Hi, I think I just figured out many things, reading your comments !:DWell, I agree with the "Every Breath You Take" theory, and here is why : - "that's me in the spot light" references "you don't have to put on the red light" - "I thought that I heard you laughing" : if you listen to the begining of Roxan, you can hear Sting laughing But there's also something about emotions and Michael would like to tell us something but he can't. And what if there had been something between Sting and him, and it made him happy, but he couldn't talk about it. That's only an hypothesis...or a dream. For the matter, "that was just a dream, etc." at the end of the song... Think about it:)I think Michael was so charmed by "Every Breath you take" that he made a dream of him and Sting.
- Alex, PARIS, United States
Although I haven't listened to this song much, I think that this song is more about some losing someone they love or care about a lot, like a lover or a close friend. "The distance in your eyes" kind of signifies that they were close, but they've grown apart. "Trying to keep up with you" is a way of saying trying to understand what the person's saying or doing. When he says "I've said to much, I haven't said enough", he can't find the words to say to change the person's mind. He shows that he feels like it's his fault by saying "I set it up". "I thought that I heard you laughing, I thought that I heard you sing, I think I thought I saw you try" is his way of saying he thought things were getting better, but in the end "that was just a dream".
- Tabitha, Brooklyn Park, MD
The meaning of this song is simple. It's about being a closeted hommosexual who's attempting to declare their sexuality ("choosing my confessions")in a homophobic world. In doing so, you are often rejected by your religion and rediculed by those around you ("every whisper," "I thought that I heard you laughing"). Such declaration is ultimately necessary, however, because you can't stay in the corner forever. You can only hope that those you care about most will continue to offer you friendship.
- Dominic Foley, St. John's, NL, Canada
A very good song ruined by overplay on the radio. Why don't the british radio stations realise that REM made lots and lots of fantastic songs other than this and "the sidewinder.." Also.. not regarded this in the same light since Hale & Pace satired this with a song and video titles "shiny happy crappy lyrics"
- Paul, Redditch, England
I don't know what it's about but it's one of the best songs ever written and I danced to it on a table in a pub in London on my 30th birthday. Happy days!
- andy, london, England
this song is about masturbation. the religious iconage of the video just make the irony that much more delicious.
- andy, atlanta, GA
This song is the patron song of recovering Catholics. Or maybe recovering Jews. Maybe recovering Moslems. Zorastrians? Republicans.
- Nick, Raleigh, NC
This song isn't about religion. It's about one of two things; homosexuality or a crush. A crush seems more accurate. It's about being deeply emotionally involved with someone, but they don't show any care or attention. losing my religion means losing faith in the person and you're starting to wonder whether you should be caring. that was just a dream means the person knows that it won't happen and that they will never care and so they're finding it hard to move on. In a different interpretation losing my religion can mean that you tried to change for this person, you tried your best to fit their lifestyle and the way they are but you couldn't do it (i dont think i can do it). The singer really wants to tell the person how much they care, but they can't bring the right words out (i havent said enough) It's about being rejected as well (like a hurt lost and blinded fool). They keep giving hints, they keep showing that they feel quite a bit, but they don't notice or don't care. (distance in your eyes). I thought that I heard you laughing, is possible stalking. But it seems to me, that the singer is imagining what the person is like if they were with them. But that was just a dream, this means that they'll never have that. The person hasn't shown any feelings and so they realise that they've been imagining it all.
- none, none, United States
I forgot to add, the singers voice is mostly low and then higher in place. This reflects the pain they feel from the rejection.
- none, none, United States
Everybody is trying to find out what this song is about except me; I don't care, it's not important, I just love it.
- Teresa, Mechelen, Belgium
The magic of the song is that you all have different interpretations, and how amazingly good does a song have to be to spawn so many interpretations, and make everyone so sure of these interpretations? It's almost poetry!
- Dorian, Pontefract, England
To those who think that this song's about a girl. I doubt Stipe would be singing about a girl. He's gay ya know.
- Mattieboo, monterey, CA
I don't know what "articles" you've been reading, Daisy, but this song was released in 1991 - four years before the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995. Unless Stipe was actually involved in the planning of the attacks, and was writing a tribute to his premeditated victims in the hour it took him to pen the song's lyrics.....
- Tony, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia
i though this song meant that religion is dying as time passes
- darwin, el paso, TX
Actually, this song is about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Joe Schmo, Denver, CO
What? Hello, this song is not about any of those things. Stipe has insisted repeatedly in numerous articles that it's a tribute to the lives lost in the Oklahoma City bombing.
- daisy fuentes, Salinas, KS
People, people, people. It's never been any secret. This song is about Stipe's admiration for Jerry Falwell and his Moral Majority Coalition.
- Ash, Charleston, WV
this is a praise song actually!REM really did it well.AVE AVE AVE maria
- Gerald, philippines, Other
well once agen it looks like I missunderstood the lyrics (big suprise). I always thought this was about a preformer or entertainer "losing his aduience" you know his following In a sense his own religion. when he sings "theres me in the spot light" and "I thougt that I heard you laghing, I thought that I heard you cry" meaning hes out there on the stage trying to entertain but no one really is that impressed or hes getting mixed reatons, some people love him, and some hate him
- jer, london, Canada
Great song. R.E.M, the spritual of Rock.
- Matthew, East Brunswick, NJ
I don't understand the video...
- Dawson, Draper, UT
For me losing my religion is the obvious, losing any sort of very strong faith. One faith that you held very close to you and was an integral part of your life. Without it, you are essentially 'lost' to an extent. Which Stipe refers to: ''hurt lost and blinded fool''. To be about a crush, then it seems that is a superficial reason, but some of these lyrics are pretty powerful, that mean some sort of strong faith of something is here. I personally think it's about our relationship with God. And how we all find our own way to interpret or worship God. ''you are not me'' - our own path But it doesn't have to be about God. It could be about any difficulty, and hardship - God fits this bill because He is so hard to grasp any reality of. the constant shift: ''in the corner'', ''in the spotlight''. For me this shift shows the group aspect of the song. the corner is where we want to be, alone considering what lies beyond. society forces us to move into the spotlight, in the end, we can't all work it out like the rest. Some of us end up losing faith, not just in God but those around us.
- randomise, Manchester, United States
Tori Amos covered this song. She did a pretty damn good job, as usual, and added that unnecessary emotional tone to it, but still good nonetheless.
- Brendon, Paxton, IL
I like the video. song's great and u never get bored of listening to this one....and easy to play also...only 3 chords....
- sum sum, New Delhi, India
According to "Pop Up Video", losing your religion meant to lost your temper.
- Kelli, Cedar Rapids, IA
uhhhh NOT a religious song... its a STALKER song... i.e. Every Breath You Take. Deal with it.
- Justin, Pittsgrove, NJ
Interesting little fact that comes from the liner notes of "In Time: The Best of R.E.M." (I think it came with the Special Edition version of the CD) "If you think about it, our career can be divided into the two-parts: pre-Losing My Religion and post-Losing My Religion. Before [Losing My] Religion, R.E.M. was a large cult band touring ten months a year. Respected and successful, we were still considered kind of minor league. Afterward, we had hit singles, platinum albums, we were on the covers of all kinds of unlikely magazines, and, at least for a couple of years, were one of the biggest bands in the world. All of which is irrelevant...When I think about Losing My Relgion, I think about the process of writing and recording it, and how dream-like and effortless it was. THe music was written in five minutes; the first time the band played it, it fell into place perfectly. Michael had lyrics within the hour and while playing the song for the third or fourth time, I found myself incredibly moved to hear the vocals in conjunction with the music. To me, Losing My Religion feels like some kind of archetype that was floating around in space that we managed to lasso. If only all songwriting was this easy."
- Mike, Cambridge, MA
Foaks, quit repeating the fact that "Losing one's religion" is a southern expression as if this would be the definitive solution of the puzzle.I know it's an expression, but has any of you bothered to wonder how the expression was born? Or do you think the word "religion" in the expression has nothing to do with the word "religion" in general? Well, here's the grand solution: normally (especially in traditional societies) when people are at their wit's end, they start to question the existence of their gods, to lose their faith in them and to become desperate about their place in the universe.In this sense, you can say about someone who's desperate over something he is losing his religion.That's the origin of the expression so the expression is not ONLY an expression of the beautiful south.So it has something to do with religion/existence/philosophy.
- avalon byrne, sibiu, Romania
Oh please, you people and your ridiculous theories. The band has explained this song over and over and yet its like beating a dead horse. The song is based on the southern expression of loosing one's patience or temper. It has nothing to do with religion or pregnancy.
- Wil, KC, KS
Actually, I still think the song is about religion.Stipe's declarations that the actual subject is a crush or a conversation with someone you're obsessed about are not necessarily relevant in this respect.Artists have the habit of hiding behind shallow explanations and interpretations.Especially today, when everybody wants to know the exact truth behind every song and they are forced to give at least some account of how they came to write the song.Anyway, the idea is that good songs with good lyrics always allow 2 or 3 interpretations(if their meaning is not obvious) and this fact being given, it is almost impossible not to also interprete this one as a religious/existentialist song.Of course, other interpretations may also fit, but every single line can be understood as part of a dialogue with God and in this way lines like "I set it up"(IT!) and "I said too much", "I haven't said enough" begin to show their actual, less prosaic significance.Also, lines like "I think I heard you laughing", "I think I heard you sing" "but it was just a dream" and so on express somebody's doubts as to the humanity of God, as to the possibility of humans to communicate with this distant God.("the distance in your eyes").Man has to choose between this uncertain God and life and he seems to incline to the conviction that "life is bigger". It's true:some of the lines can also be seen as the expression of unfulfilled love and God is sometimes being addressed to like a human/lover.But that doesn't change anything; it just adds to the genius of this polymorphic text.
- avalon byrne, sibiu, Romania
i thought it was about one losing their virginity before they were married, and the girl got pregent.
- gywn, queens,new york
I think this song is about a mental awareness of ones own homosexuality. Every homo secretly wants to be straight or normal, lets face it, homosexuality does not have many selling points. The song is about Stipe, from an external point of view (that's me in the corner, that's me in the spot light). And the lengths that he will go through in order to fit in and work toward what he thinks will fulfill him. He will try and turn into someone else, not himself (And you are not me). Regardless how much he believes he is capable of making what he thinks is the right choice, it's always a lie. Well brought up Homo's were taught good morals, good selfless Christians morals, and they work toward them tirelessly, until they reach a point where their life starts to fall apart, they loose their religion. A homo will over analyze himself and police his behavior in order to make himself more acceptable (Choosing my confessions), working toward the morals he was taught, but never finding love as a result, just being hurt himself because he believe he is incapable (Like a hurt lost and blinded fool, I think I heard you laughing, I thought I heard you sing, I think I thought I saw you try) and know that if anything were to happen with a woman, he would end up hurting her with his dishonesty for no real reason (The distance in your eyes). He will try and make himself fit where he does not. Until finally the realization that everything he wanted was just a dream hits him and he knows that his dreams will be unfulfilled, everything that everyone else has is impossible for him, and there is nothing he can do about it apart from just accepting it. So it is a song of obsession and acceptance, obsession with ones self and ones own behavior and acceptance of the fact that most times dreams will remain unfulfilled.
- Andrew, Pretoria, South Africa
used in the soap opera show bevely hills 90210 where dylan and brenda break up in his car where they are at the beach.
- tony, manitowoc, WI
When R.E.M. were on MTV unplugged Stipe said the song was about a pupil having a crush on a teacher. End of discussion!
- Rick, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England
The first REM song I ever heard. They're now my fav. group!!
- Mark, Dundee, Scotland
I find this all very amusing because a while back I downloaded the song because I'd finally got the artist's name and song title from the radio... at the time I was dating someone who was homosexual, but he wanted so hard to keep a relationship with me because he loved my personality. I got him into the song, and strangely the song always reminded me of how confused he always was.
- Lauren, Schertz, TX
According to VH1's "True Spin" Michael Stipe wrote this song as a quasi-tribute to the Police's "Every Breath You Take." He was so inspired by the song that he wanted to create a song with a similar vibe. So it is about an obsession.
- KC, Normal, IL
REM's biggest and most known song - by a mile
- rhett, Melbourne, Australia
A couple of years ago, I heard a cover of this done as a Gregorian (monk) chant, comeplete with echoes. Spooky!
- Keith, SLC, UT
The video marks the first time Michael Stipe began lip syncing in their music videos.
- Chad, orlando, FL
This song had nothing to do with religion. It's about having a crush on a girl, but being at wit's end because the girl does not like you back.
- EPP, Pittsburgh, PA
I've always thought this was more about emotional dependence than obsession. Quite clearly, Stipe has much more of an investment in the relationship he's describing than the object of his dependence, and while there are obsessive elements to his pursuit, he is mainly expressing his frustration about not being able to break through the emotional barriers the other person is putting up. I speak from personal experience on this, having at one time in my life fallen for a beautiful man who, though sexually expert, could not sustain an intimate relationship once out of the bedroom, and I almost lost myself in the process of trying to force this to happen. It seems that Stipe must have had a similar experience, since "Losing My Religion" so perfectly speaks of a longing that is not physical in nature, but instead expresses the desire for a deeper emotional and spiritual bond that, in spite of all effort expended, is just never going to be.
- Rico, Pittsburgh, PA
The "Losing my Religion" video, directed by Tarsem Singh, is one of the most beautifully crafted pieces of homoerotica I have ever seen. Much of the imagery in the video is derived from the work of the Italian artist Carvaggio (who, incidentally, was bisexual) and the story of Saint Sebastian (in recent years, embraced as the patron saint of gays). Furthermore, Michael Stipe has been quoted in Q magazine as saying: "Am I queer? Absolutely. I have enjoyed sex with men and women throughout my life." If you listen to the song in this context, it all makes sense. It's about confessing to - or at least dropping hints about - a same-sex crush. I love it.
- Teresa, Fishguard, Wales
That's ok, Marvin. I thought the expression referred to masturbation...which would actually go with the crush/obsession theme.
- Lauren, Maryville, MO
I know that what you other ppl have sed is probably rite nd it is about an obsession with a person, but I first heard this song wen I was 3 and I have always thought of it as someone close to the lead singer who he loves and cares about, slipping away from him and hes trying to get them back, but theyre cold to him. To me it seems as if theyve left him and he cant get them back. It is an amazing song which I have loved since I first heard.
- Lotty, Winchester, England
The song is about Michael Stipes obsession with the Police Song "Every Breath You Take". Saw an interview with MS and he explained the story.
- John, Birmingham, AL
This song is definitely about having a horrible obsessive crush on someone and them not reciprocating and the harships involved in that. Losing my Religion does mean to be at your wit's end. This song is NOT autobiographical and has nothing to do with Michael Stipe or a crush he had, especially not with someone in the video. It's probably something that everyone has felt at one time or another which is why it was such a big hit. That and the FABULOUS mandolin. Good job, Peter buck.
- Erin, Richmond, VA
The song is actually about obsession and people who become obsessed with others.
- Dan, Phoenix, AZ
This song is about a crush that Michael Stipe had. The crush was on a Brunette that appeared in other REM videos. Its not about religion OR about The man that killed John Lennon
- evan, shelbyville, KY
Was actually written about stalking a love. He decided he wanted to write a love song b/c he loved the song every breath you take by the police
- JON, Lincoln, NE
It's actualy about the guy who killed John Lennon, not religion.
- Trevor, Nowhere, NM
Lots of things to note. The song is about a crush. Stipe said it was about being in a conversation with someone you have a crush on and just trying to keep up with them. It's so stressful that he is "losing his religion" or is at his wits end. Lines like "oh no I said too much" are an example of the conversation. Also, the line "What if all these fantasies come flaming around? And now I said too much." was Stipes way of coming out of the closet to the world. Also, his dancing in the video, according to Stipes, is a rip-off of a Sinead O'Connor video.
- Matthew, New York, NY
I always thought the expression "Losing My Religion" referred to losing ones virginity outside of marriage.