R.E.M. – Man On The Moon

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  My Interpretation:This song is a tribute to "performance artist" Andy Kaufman. While the references his to his life are quite clear, the rest of the lyrics are very much up to interpretation (hell, even the ones directly about him are up to interpretation, at least metaphorically). There is a lot I am not sure about, and it would be helpful if someone could clear it up for me.
  
  I think as some people have said, the first verse is mainly about stuff from the late 70s/early 80s like Mott the Hoople and their big hit "All the Young Dudes" originally penned by David Bowie. The second line introduces Andy as the centerpiece of the song, and further down in this verse "Mr. Fred Blassie and the breakfast mess" refers to Fred Blassie the wrestler and his relationship with Andy. Andy was a big fan of wrestling as it got people riled up and excited about something, a reaction Andy loved. He had a period where he wrestled women and feigned being extremely sexist in order to become the ultimate "villain" in the wrestling world. This also led to a relationship with wrestler Jerry Lawler and later on, Fred Blassie. Andy and Blassie made a movie together based on a different movie called "My Dinner with Andre," which took place over the course of a dinner between two people. The movie was called "My Breakfast with Blassie" and it did not fair very well in theaters (the breakfast mess). "See you in heaven if you make the list" is an absolutely beautiful line, but I am not sure what it refers to. I imagine this is another Andy reference as it is quite abstract.
  
  The pre-chorus "Now, Andy did you hear about this one..." refers to the common belief that Andy hadn't actually died and he was playing a trick. There is a ton of double-meaning in this part of the song. It asks Andy if he's "heard about this one", since it is certainly something that would have piqued Andy's interest. In my mind it suggests that Andy may not have found it to be a great practical joke to fake one's own death, and that if Andy was asked he might say it was going too far. The next line, "tell me are you locked in the punch" is saying hey Andy, are you really doing this? Are you so committed to your performance style that you are willing to fake your death? "Andy, are you goofing on Elvis" is about the fact that many people believed that Elvis Presley's death was faked, and Andy was an incredible (in fact Elvis's favorite) Elvis impersonator. I think the last line "are we losing touch" is about people being totally unsure about the truth of this "prank". In addition, it may refer to Andy's strongly held belief that people take themselves too seriously, and we should be willing to make fools out of ourselves lest we forget to have fun while we can.
  
  The chorus is clearly about the myth that the moon landing was faked, once again comparing it to Andy's "faked" death. It's probably not very complex but I'm having trouble figuring out "then nothing is cool." The chorus really has the least to talk about in this song.
  
  The bit about Moses, Isaac Newton, Egypt, and Charles Darwin is about certain courageous people who forged ahead, unafraid of being chastised, just like Andy (I'm not sure how the Egypt part fits in here). Andy was a huge exception to the role of "comedian" which so many people wanted to put him in. He was a visionary, if one were to give him that much credit for the purpose behind his performance style.
  
  The second pre-chorus has a change in the last line to "are you having fun?". This line is asking Andy whether he is doing these practical jokes for his own entertainment or for others'. There is a line George Shapiro says in the movie Man on the Moon paraphrasing this. Specifically, in a very ironic R.E.M. fashion, this line asks if he is having fun with this prank, his death. This is what a lot of the public was likely thinking until it was clear that he actually did died. Andy was not having fun. He was dead.
  
  The last verse gives me chills every time I hear it. It takes place after Andy's death. After Andy died, one of his characters kept making appearances: Tony Clifton, a washed-up lounge singer. Since he did play Tony sometimes, Andy's friend Bob Zmuda was thought to have played Clifton in the years following Andy's death. "Here's a little agit for the never-believers". I have no idea what "agit" means but if I had to guess it probably derives from agitate, so it could be that Andy is taunting the skeptics by showing up in the form of Tony Clifton, suggesting he may not have died. The line "here's a little ghost for the offering" is like, hey here's a little bit of Andy. I don't quite get the "here's a truck stop instead of St. Peter's" line but it suggests some sullying of a holy place. Maybe "St. Peter's" is referring to heaven rather than the cathedral, as Peter is the one who mans the pearly gates. The spiritual nature of this line should not be ignored. Andy was a hugely spiritual man and he devoted a large part of his personal life to the Transcendental Meditation movement. He was by no means Christian, but the line seems to hold a greater spiritual meaning. Finally, the song returns to "Mister Andy Kaufman's gone wrestling". When I hear this line, I imagine Andy wrestling in heaven. Andy is not dead. He lives on in the chaos, laughter, hatred, and love that he caused so many people to feel.
  
  If anyone has any answers to the questions I posed, please let me know!

  Flag jacksongreeron April 18, 2013   Link

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  Song Meaning:This song has multiple references to growing up in the early/mid '70s, but ultimately the song is about Andy Kaufman. He was initially famous for his appearance on the 2nd season of SNL doing an odd lip sinc to "Mighty Mouse - Here I come to save the day" theme, among a few others. He went on to star in Taxi as "Latka", his most famous role. He had several bit characters that caught on, notably his "Tony Clifton" lounge singer and his wrestling challenge as himself vs a "professional" wrestler. Many thought he faked his death in '84 as yet another bit. If only.
  As for some of the lyrics... the opening line is beautiful. "Mott the Hoople" was a glam rock band that hit it big with a song written by David Bowie "All the Young Dudes". A top hit in 1972. The rest of that part is simply about being a kid playing games in the early '70s.
  "Mr Fred Blassie" was one of Kaufman's boyhood wresting hero's.
  3rd verse is simply Bible references
  4th verse is Andy's death.
  "If you believe, they put a man on the moon" is reference to some that believe, and still do to this day, that the 1969 moon landing (and those that followed) were faked by the US government.
  Damn fine lyrics all around....

  Flag UTBigAlon January 05, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Not sure if someone already wrote this, but the theory is we never "landed" on the moon. When Stanley Kubrick made the movie The Shining, he had that child, Danny walk down the hall with an Apollo 11 sweater. It was his way of revealing that the moon landing was filmed in a basement. Also, that song by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication - "Space may be the final frontier but it’s made in a Hollywood basement" is revealing it too.
  
  I think when the truth comes out about the good ole USA, it will be the End of The World As We Know It.

  Flag soulfreedomon December 01, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:its about the advancement of everything, and how we are bored of the originals who brought you what is here today, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah("I know")
  
  and even Andy Kaufman, who is needed sometimes as a break from it all(entertainment), is also built on layers of previous comedians, lying wrestlers, etc. where he becomes the ultimate lyer, or god who creates man and woman, and even reality, where you have to sometimes think, is this real what Im seeing or not? 'The intergender wrestling champion of all time!'
  
  and finally REM singer at the end, mentions the same thing for himself, where he has 'nothing up his sleeve as well', where it took lots of work, rehearsing, and sweat to get where hes at to bring this entertainment, "where nothing is cool(up his sleave that is)" lol

  Flag outofthis1on November 15, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I know this song is about Andy, but....always when I hear this and specially the chorus.......this is....the perfect...anthem for a dreamer. For thinking of the better for humankind, for pure things, ideals, pure feelings.
  Feels that, when he says "If you believed they put a man on the moon" he is talking about everything humankind is capable of, but not only science-wise.
  
  Not a fan of R.E.M, but as a dreamer, this song hits me as hell. Love it.

  Flag RedSpikedWallson November 05, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Just some food for thought. With its references to questionable technical accomplishments / advancements. Andy Kauffman died of cancer. While we can put a man on the moon, come up with complicated theory's and use them to create these wonderful technical advances, we cannot cure cancer we haven't even come up with any significant advancements in the area. Many of us believe their is a cure but if exposed, many billions of dollars will be lost (drug companies, college pharmacy schools and many other cancer related groups) Cancer is a multi billion dollar industry.
  
  Mike is also taking his usual poke at "GOD" for allowing things to happen that we as humans cannot comprehend.
  
  Love the song and my interpretation of its meaning!!!
  
  P.S.
  Cancer has been around awhile (100's of years) without significant gains in cures, life extension, etc.. Yet AIDS (a 40 year old disease) is practically cured, Just ask Magic Johnson.

  Flag ledacdczepon October 23, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:This song is about entertainment and Andy's as an entertainer. Science and religion are mentioned because they are subjects that can be used by Andy in his comedy shows .
  One of the themes of his shows can also be celebrities, that's why Elvis Presley is referred to .
  The references of games are due to the personality and to the way Andy Kaufman used to approach people , making them question if it was real or it was a game .
  They talked about the moon because it can be used to make fun of the imagination of people who believe on it , when it can be just an illusion.
  
  10ºB , Escola Secundária de São João da Talha , Portugal

  Flagged teersaon March 13, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I appreciate the info in the comments!
  
  Is it not "Andy are you goofing on Elmstreet" intead of Elvis though? As in falling asleep on Elmstreet (bad idea with Freddy around.).

  Flagged monsuier garlicon February 05, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I feel this song is probably about more than just Andy Kaufman. There's two references in particular that seem to be criticisms of religion - I also feel disappointment is a major theme. Considering the general tone of the album, it sits well within the examination of mortality,loss and regret.
  
  I always take more of a feeling from AFTP than any specific meaning - this song is no different as it seems to be lots of lines that fire the imagination and may be connected briefly or not at all. The over-arching idea seems to be that trust is difficult and disillusionment is a very real part of life.

  Flag fogzaon January 06, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I took this one to be an expression of admiration for Kauffman's brilliant ability to turn everything in life, including religion, into a game or a joke. To make jokes about spirituality requires the utmost courage because the consequences are potentially eternal.
  
  The narrator is saying that Kauffman didn't take life too seriously and therefore Kauffman was "cool". Kauffman's ability to turn everything into a joke made the news and other aspects of life more entertaining (less dry and meaningless) for his fans.

  Flag asortofdreamon April 17, 2011   Link

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    That is to say that Kauffman is admired for his willingness and ability to poke fun at both science and religion. Kauffman took nothing in life seriously and that's what made him so delightful an entertainer.

    Flag asortofdreamon July 17, 2011  

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    I like your interpretation. Just sad to see another great band call it quits, but 30 years was definitely a gift that requires both admiration and appreciation.

    Flag MissCharlotteSometimeson September 25, 2011  

    +1

    I suppose to get inside the mindset of the artist, one needs to know the history behind the subject. I need to read more :)

    Flag MissCharlotteSometimeson September 25, 2011  

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