REM – Find the River

Before I start, let me warn you, this is an article that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. So unless you’re a true music fan, don’t bother reading this one.

Not sure if many people associate with this. I very rarely like a song straight away. The first few times I hear it, I just try to understand it. Not the lyrics alone, I try to understand the feel of the song, the music. Not sure if I’m making much sense here. I’m not exactly a music man, just that I’m crazy about the art.

The song seems to gradually gain form over the first few initial times that I hear it. It’s only gradually that I begin to actually like it. Now after this while, I just cant remember what the song’s first impression on me was. I can’t remember what went through my mind on hearing the song the first time around.

After the initial period, the song could become an absolute fav. It’s probably more about associating with the song.
This doesn’t necessarily happen with only a song. For Ex: I was absolutely hooked on to Black Sabbath’s initial albums for a year or so in college.

Over the past few months the song that I’ve been hooked on to is REM – Find the River. I have no idea what it is about the song that I like so much, but there’s something for sure, and it’s there every time I hear the song.

I don’t know much about the band, except for probably their greatest hits which everybody knows about… and word of mouth reviews by a few critic friends I know.

Anyways, here’s the lyrics:

Hey now, little speedyhead,
The read on the speedmeter says
You have to go to task in the city
Where people drown and people serve.
Don't be shy. Your just deserve
Is only just light years to go.

Me, my thoughts are flower strewn
Ocean storm, bayberry moon.
I have got to leave to find my way.
Watch the road and memorize
This life that pass before my eyes.
Nothing is going my way.

The ocean is the river's goal,
A need to leave the water knows
We're closer now than light years to go.

I have got to find the river,
Bergamot and vetiver
Run through my head and fall away.
Leave the road and memorize
This life that pass before my eyes.
Nothing is going my way.

There's no one left to take the lead,
But I tell you and you can see
We're closer now than light years to go.
Pick up here and chase the ride.
The river empties to the tide.
Fall into the ocean.

The river to the ocean goes,
Afortune for the undertow.
None of this is going my way.
There is nothing left to throw
Of Ginger, lemon, indigo,
Coriander stem and rose of hay.
Strength and courage overrides
The privileged and weary eyes
Of river poet search naivete.
Pick up here and chase the ride.
The river empties to the tide.
All of this is coming your way.

Don’t know if I’ve even understood the lyrics the way it’s supposed to be understood, but then I can associate with every word. Odd eh?

Also, I don’t think this song features in their big hits. Not too many people would know much about this song. It’s probably not meant to be liked straight away either, and not too many people bother with songs that aren’t meant to be liked straightaway.

If you’re the kind of a person that likes to actually listen to the music being played and not just probably follow the beat and other such, then check this song out. It’s real good.

Unrelated:
I woke up the other day and all my roomies asked me if I knew Robert Plant (before I’d gotten off the daze). I replied, “Yes, he’s the Led Zep vocalist…” with a trace of fear. After all the Himesh bashing (sheesh, him again, I’d really tried to avoid having him featuring in this post, he’s more regular in our posts than Pink Floyd even) they have to put up with everyday, I’d really expected them to absolutely rip his vocals apart. They kinda surprised me with saying nothing about him, just that there was this program about him on History channel (talk about being historical when you’re alive).

I smiled to myself.
Good music is really inaccessible in some parts of the world.

It probably does make sense to decide whether you like a song or not straightaway rather than actually take the pains to think about it. Probably. Just that I prefer Floyd.

-Komodo Dragon