Losing My Religion   R.E.M. (#4 in 1991)

Life is bigger
It's bigger than you
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

That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
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

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

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
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




The song is a classic obsession song. It's about someone who pines for someone else. It's unrequited love, what have you.
Michael Stipe

(It) could be a comment on the state of the world, very easily. In fact, it's an extension of 'World Leader Pretend'.
Michael Stipe

(It's) nothing more than a fairly well-written obsession song that was widely misinterpreted... I was trying to write 'Every Breath You Take'. Is that embarrassing? I don't think so. It's a great song; I was trying to write a better one.
Michael Stipe

I think 'Losing My Religion' is autobiographical.
Peter Buck

That's totally live - acoustic guitars, bass, mandolin and drums. No overdubs, no changes. Mike put down the string part.
Peter Buck