# What's the Best R.E.M. song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 8, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505 "2010-10-08T16:04:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/1 "2010-10-08T16:04:28Z")
Individual album polls are done, so let’s settle the big question: What’s the best overall song? There was only one album with a tie vote for the top spot (_Dead Letter Office_), so both of the top songs from that one will be included in the poll. For me, it was a tough choice between “Radio Free Europe”, “Fall On Me” and “Nightswimming”, but I went with the latter in the end (though I really feel “Fall On Me” is the most representative of what makes them great, I love “Nightswimming” more if I’m being completely honest with myself). What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/2 "2010-10-08T16:05:51Z")
“Fall on Me” is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/3 "2010-10-08T16:10:49Z")
As (I think) I stated in the _Automatic for the People_ thread, _Nightswimming_ has my votes for one of the greatest songs of all time, so this one is pretty easy to call. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/4 "2010-10-08T16:47:25Z")
_Losing My Religion_ followed by _Bang and Blame_. ---
**Author:** ![rayxi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rayxi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayxi)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/5 "2010-10-08T16:59:59Z")
Sitting Still I wish I could figure out the lyrics though. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/6 "2010-10-08T17:01:04Z")
A lot of my favorite REM songs aren’t up there, but of the batch, boy do I love me some _Driver 8!!!_ Thanks for running this poll, and for sticking with it even through the Berryless age. And dopers, thanks for not voting _The One I Love_ or _Shiny Happy People_ to the top. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/7 "2010-10-08T17:02:36Z")
I picked _Losing My Religion_, but their best is _Shiny Happy People_ ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/8 "2010-10-08T17:09:34Z")
> [@rayxi](#): > > Sitting Still > I wish I could figure out the lyrics though. Not one of the poll options, but these are the lyrics I use when I sing along (bear in mind they still don’t make sense): This name I’ve got got we all agree Secret stop, stop it well-read We could bind it in the cyst (scythe?) We could gather throw a fit Up to par and Katie bars the kitchen sides but not me in Sitting trial for the big kill Wasting time, sitting still I’m the sign and you can read I’m the sign and you’re not deaf… I can hear you You can gather when I talk Talk until you’re blue You could get away from me I can hear you Can you hear me? ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/9 "2010-10-08T17:11:49Z")
I don’t have any dog in this poll, but why does it lack “Everybody Hurts” ? ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/10 "2010-10-08T17:16:45Z")
Forget “Everybody hurts”, where on earth is “E-bow the letter”? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/11 "2010-10-08T17:19:16Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Forget “Everybody hurts”, where on earth is “E-bow the letter”? I did polls for the best songs on each individual album, and these were the highest scoring songs. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/12 "2010-10-08T17:22:06Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > > [@bucketybuck](#): > > > > Forget “Everybody hurts”, where on earth is “E-bow the letter”? > > I did polls for the best songs on each individual album, and these were the highest scoring songs. I dont understand the world at times… ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/13 "2010-10-08T17:57:46Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > > [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > > > I did polls for the best songs on each individual album, and these were the highest scoring songs. > > I dont understand the world at times… I know, right? No _Man on the Moon_ either. Oh well, _End of the World_ is an option, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/14 "2010-10-08T18:11:52Z")
R.E.M. is a hot and cold band. I LOVE a LOT of their stuff, but on a percentage basis, it’s about 20% of what they produce…the other 80%? I can’t friggen STAND. B-52’s and They Might Be Giants in varying percentages are similar. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/15 "2010-10-08T18:15:18Z")
I was hoping this would be a best album poll. Either way, I can’t really pick just one. ---
**Author:** ![rayxi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rayxi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayxi)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/16 "2010-10-08T18:22:38Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > > [@rayxi](#): > > > > Sitting Still > > I wish I could figure out the lyrics though. > > Not one of the poll options, but these are the lyrics I use when I sing along (bear in mind they still don’t make sense): Thanks! I’ll have to listen to it later to see if you’re any closer than the other versions I’ve seen. On a side note, I remember reading somewhere the Stipe himself doesn’t even know the original lyrics as he kind of winged part of it with random words during the recording. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/17 "2010-10-08T19:52:42Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Forget “Everybody hurts”, where on earth is “E-bow the letter”? That was gonna be my vote, until I shockingly realized it was omitted. I guess Losing my religion is their “2nd best song,” and best on this list IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/18 "2010-10-08T20:02:12Z")
None of their records brought me as much happiness (or, for that matter, drove me to the guitar to figure out a lick quite as often) as _Murmur,_ so that’s where I voted. For that matter, the '83 show was the best I saw them play. Was that 27 years ago? Ye gods. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/19 "2010-10-08T21:01:37Z")
I like “Orange Crush” because its a drink \*and \*a song. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505/20 "2010-10-08T21:39:18Z")
Went with _Fall on Me_, because it’s perfect. IMHO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-r-e-m-song/556505.md?page=2)