Thematically and sonically, this was a perfect fit right after Blur.
I’ve been an R.E.M. fan from jump…I connected with the music right away. Once again, I’m not entirely sure this song is actually about depression, but the word ‘low‘ can be interpreted in that context. The meaning can indicate position, as well as mood.
Michael Stipe often writes deliberately ambiguous lyrics (and in a lot of cases sings that way as well LOL), but to me, the lyrics reflect the ambiguity of depressive states. You can laugh at a joke, while at the same time feel completely disconnected from everything, and on top of all this feel like your sanity is in flux.
In between
Down below
Low, low, low
Low, low, low
You can find out more about R.E.M. here
Listen to Music To Illuminate The Darkness On Spotify