Man...this song is too perfect. It's basically just the chords F# - A - E - F# with D thrown in for the hell of it every so often. Such a simple song. Basically a bluesy sort of progression...but it allows Stipes super unique manner of singing melodies to shine. I love how he hits all these little chromatic notes...as many have noted...many suspended seconds and fourths. From a music theory perspective, this song is so interesting to deconstruct. Writing such a simple yet amazing song is an art.
There are no words to describe how much I love this band. Stong songs, great guys and awesome live. I miss them live but they busted their asses for 30 years and gave us so so much great music. I'm thankful.
Always one of my favourite songs, but I never thought I'd see them play it live as it's not exactly well known. But saw them at Old Trafford in around 2005 and they opened with it. Amazing!
So I am sitting here and it's cold and rainy, which I love. My first thought for music is Counting Crows (Raining in Baltimore, and the like), but then I thought. This cold air and beautiful sky and rain noises and all that goes along with it call for rebirth and creation when the sun comes out. Spring is coming. And Easter. And your future and mine. So let's prepare and begin again. Whatever you do, rock it out. That is the way to succeed in life. Consider the lilies of the field. They toil not, neither do they spin.
