| R.E.M. – Orange Crush Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| I would guess that this site is read and commented on by mostly those 40 and under. If there were many comments by those old enough to serve in Vietnam there wouldn't be much debate on the "meaning" of this song. There are of course many songs by many artists that have more of what you might call an "inspiration" than a lyric by lyric meaning and I would bet this song does contain a bit of that. (there will always be some public ambiguity as Mr. Stipe himself has been quoted and misquoted about the song and has made or has been reported to have made conflicting statements on its meaning) but there is so much of this song that could have been taken out of dialogue that I have heard with my own ears that I have no doubt that not only did the author intend to call up the specter of Vietnam but he had the assistance of someone who was there. (of course, perhaps, Michael Stipes father - if not his father directly, there could have been so many other connections...sadly, there is often much that fathers never say directly..I do not know how it was for his family, I am speaking unfortunately from my own experience) There are terms like "Orange Crush" itself, which, yes, referred to Agent Orange, but there are lesser known habits of speech like the reference to "counties" and "truck stops" ..."all the trucks jacked up and our wheels in slush" This whole song echoes with things I can almost smell when it plays... I could explain more but I would like everyone who has or will question this song to go and find a veteran and discuss the experience of war with them. It does not have to be a Vietnam vet, each war and each experience was different (my own Father was a WWII vet and some things were so different and some were appallingly the same...and some I will never know about, as my father is gone now and so much - even of what we knew in common was left unsaid) but if you will forget about the politics of any given war for awhile or whether or not you agree or disagree as individuals with whomever you may find, who will speak to you (you also might be surprised at the wide range of views..) and just listen, I guarantee you will learn something worth knowing...perhaps even more of what was referred to in this song... But in listening and should you decide to take that story with you, regardless of of what you decide it means to you, you will be one more who will not forget... | |
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