Meaning of It is the end of the world as we know it by REM

You’re not the only one who has ever found yourself singing along to “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. But have you ever thought about what’s really going on behind those fast-paced lyrics? So, get a coffee and let’s dive into the world of this famous song, which came out on November 16, 1987. It first appeared on their album Document. It was released as the album’s second single, reaching No. 69 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and later reaching No. 39 on the UK Singles Chart on its re-release in December 1991. (https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9336341/songs-surge-coronaviras)

From the Artist’s Point of View

To get to the heart of this song, we need to look at it from the songwriter’s point of view. The mysterious lead singer of R.E.M., Michael Stipe, wrote the song’s words in a style called “stream of consciousness.” “The words came so fast, it was like an avalanche,” Stipe said. I remember scrawling so quickly that I couldn’t keep up with the words as they came out.

The lines may look like a mess of words at first, but they were meant to show how chaotic the world is and how stressful modern life can be. Also, Stipe has said that the song shows how he feels about being overwhelmed by the complexity of the world and his own personal problems.

What Listeners Thought

“It’s the End of the World as We Know It” is beautiful because it can be interpreted in many ways. People can find their own message in this song, even though there are a lot of words. Some see it as a comment on the end of the world or the coming end of the world, while others see it as a metaphor for how chaotic life is.

This line, “It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine),” is said over and over again, but it makes no sense. It seems to say that even though there is a lot of chaos, there is a sense of acceptance, or maybe even indifference.

Historical and Social Setting

A lot of big events and changes in society happened in the late 1980s. There was still the Cold War going on, and there was a big chance of a nuclear war. The world was also dealing with the AIDS crisis and other changes in society. There was a feeling of unease and doubt because of all of these things.

When R.E.M. put out this song, the world seemed to be racing towards a future that no one knew much about. It shows how it feels to be flooded with worries, knowledge, and change.

The song’s music video, which was made by James Herbert, is a crazy mix of images that add to the song’s themes of chaos and confusion.

To sum up, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” is a musical roller coaster whose fast-paced words challenge listeners to find their own meaning in the chaos. From Michael Stipe’s point of view, it’s an overflow of feelings and a look at how complicated life is. In the bigger picture of the late 1980s, it’s a sample of the worries and unknowns of the time.

Think about how great R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” is the next time you hear its fast-paced lyrics and catchy melody. This song has been around for a long time and still speaks to people who are trying to make sense of a world that sometimes seems to be running away from them.