In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing (say, say, the light)
I'm very scared for this world, I'm very scared for me
Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene, you're in the back seat laying down
The windows wrap around
To sound of the travel and the engine
All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone, you are the everything
I think about this world a lot and I cry
And I've seen the films and the eyes But I'm in this kitchen
Everything is beautiful and she is so beautiful
She is so young and old
I look at her and I see the beauty of the light of music
The voices talking somewhere in the house
Late spring and you're drifting off to sleep
With your teeth in your mouth
You are here with me, you are here with me
You have been here and you are everything
Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing (say, say, the light)
I'm very scared for this world, I'm very scared for me
Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene, you're in the back seat laying down
The windows wrap around
To sound of the travel and the engine
All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone, you are the everything
I'm very scared for this world, I'm very scared for me
Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene, you're in the back seat laying down
The windows wrap around
To sound of the travel and the engine
All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone, you are the everything
I think about this world a lot and I cry
And I've seen the films and the eyes But I'm in this kitchen
Everything is beautiful and she is so beautiful
She is so young and old
I look at her and I see the beauty of the light of music
The voices talking somewhere in the house
Late spring and you're drifting off to sleep
With your teeth in your mouth
You are here with me, you are here with me
You have been here and you are everything
Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing (say, say, the light)
I'm very scared for this world, I'm very scared for me
Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene, you're in the back seat laying down
The windows wrap around
To sound of the travel and the engine
All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone, you are the everything
Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst
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There is a website where Michael Stipe responds to questions about the meaning of his songs popsongs.wordpress.com/category/ask-michael-stipe/. He was asked, "What does 'drifting off to sleep with your teeth in your mouth' refer to? [You Are the Everything] Does the subject of the song wear dentures? It confounds my interpretation of the rest of the song."
And Michael replied: "I really hate that line, but what it really is, and I’m happy to shout this, is when you just wake up and your body is in that paralyzed state and you’re not sure you’re awake; and grinding your teeth together or biting down hard is the first acknowledgment that this is real life, not a dream. That’s what that line is, it just came off really really awkward. I’ve always regretted that line in that song, so thanks for the chance to speak out about it"
thenetlinky,<br /> I suppose my offering is redundant then. I'll check out the link you gave.
This is depressing because I always thought it was about an older person forgetting to take out their dentures because they're just that tired, and their spouse thought it was cute/funny. ...... I think I'll just continue to believe this, but thanks anyway Michael Stipe lolol.
@thenetlinky Stipe is poet through and through. I used to wonder the same thing about the old person with dentures etc, but really knew all along he was singing about disassociative sensationa people can feel at odd moments, particularly during waking or falling asleep. I think the reference to the season is Spring is significant as it is the time of maximum change. The goes along with the car/travelling imagery, contrasting with the stillness and stars. It's magic stuff and one of my favourite REM tunes.
One of R.E.M.'s most underrated songs.
freewebs.com/thejakesite
the first time i heard this song i was 12 years old & i had just purchased the album green. i was sitting my room & this song came on & i immediately loved the crickets. it made me think of so many different things. childhood, my grandparents, love, death, the south, humidty, rain. my mother was dying of cancer at the time & it made me think of the way my father looked at her as he was losing her. their love was so strong & so real. i remember saying out loud when the song was over "this is the song i will dance with my husband to on my wedding day."
sixteen years later my husband & i danced to that song on our wedding day as the sun went down & it poured down rain on a hot & humid september evening.
i am now using the song to put together my son's first birthday photo montage.
i love this song so much & it has really become such a part of my life.
thank you everyone else for your comments on the song. i really enjoyed reading them.
@puella I only just read this and I hope somehow 14 years after you posted it you read my reply … a beautiful response to a beautiful song - it’s just how it makes me feel too… hope you still play it - when you need to hear it .:.I do x
@nick101344 - I had to create a new login to comment, but I read your response today, 3/15/24. Thank you, it made me teary. My husband and I have been a couple of 32 years now and married 18. We still sign every single birthday/anniversary/holiday card with " You Are the Everything". This song will always be special and I will never stop listening to it. Much peace and love to you.
This song includes memories of when you are a child on a long car journey, and you doze and feel safe whilst your parent is driving "the windows wrap around to the sound of the travel and the engine, all you hear is time stand still in travel". It is a strange sensation to be in a car, and how you interpret time and memories is a large part of your life. Stipe and co cleverly use imagery and music to get the message of the song across, however vague it may seem to some.
I think that this is a lovely song. It's like hes saying that he is scared of the world now, but he has his memories of that certain person, and as long as he has that then he'll be okay. Well thats what i get from this song.
This song is the everything....
I remember hearing somewhere that Stipe wrote this song for his bandmate's baby daughter (maybe Peter Buck's?), Stipe is the godfather and wrote it while she was traveling with the band.
It's Sad, Sad, life. Not Say say, the light. This song just reminds me of my childhood I can remember the feeling and sound of my family's voices as I was in and out of sleep in the bus camping.
This song has a way of bringing me to tears sometimes. Falling asleep while voices are talking somewhere in the house brings to mind the total trust and feeling of safety we lose as children.
the imagry at the beginning of this song reminds me of nightswimming.
i think its about him looking his child ( i picture a daughter ) and speaking of his love for her.