Behind The Song: "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M.

Today we explore the controversial nature of R.E.M.'s hit song "Losing My Religion" and its impact on the band's album release. As one of the most iconic songs of the '90s, "Losing My Religion" garnered attention not only for its captivating sound but also for its cryptic and open-to-interpretation lyrics.
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#shorts #music #losingmyreligion

[@NoudlePipW]

I love the intended meaning, but I also love the unintentional meaning.

[@Channelscruf]

If you lose your religion, you will live an average of 4 years less.

[@NoudlePipW]

@@Channelscruf Thank God.

[@rickallen1908]

​@@Channelscruf I guess God told you that. Or was it a scientific conclusion??

[@Channelscruf]

@@rickallen1908 Studies vary, but people who attend religious services regularly live an average of about 4 years longer.

[@rickallen1908]

@@Channelscruf So how do they come up with that number? My mother who was very religious died of lung cancer at 49. My father who then became an atheist lived to be 82. Not too impressed with your study...

[@aisforapple2494]

My sister had a co-worker who would sing.... 🎶"That's me at the corner / That's me at the stoplight / Losing my transmission / Trying to keep my car off you"🎶

[@randilevson9547]

Peter Buck's mandolin was just a perfect part of this amazing song.

[@sotidim]

american mandolin unfortunately, the Italian ones have better sound and more sweet and melodic. I play the mandolin since 8 years old and now I am 50, and the best mandolin I have ever held was Carmelo Catania no3, now is not produced anymore unfortunately.

[@TabooX1984]

"That's me in the corner" 👍

[@Pr1ckles]

REM _knew_ their audience.

[@jeanlloydbradberry9099]

One of the greatest ever! REAL "art"! Eat THAT, Taylor Not-so-...!

[@loufaolla]

Had the unexpected good fortune to crew the Green Tour. It was a believe tour and not only was the incredible - they were smart enuff to film their own tours on 16mm film and release their own concert films on then VHS. Incredible musicians + savvy businessmen

[@tia2all501]

@@loufaolla I Still Have My VHS Tape Of The GREEN TOUR! And Also My REM Vinyl Collection,Cassette Tapes, And A GREEN TOUR POSTER IN A FRAME ( it’s hanging up in my laundry room) Oh And my tee shirt collection! REM Was the soundtrack of my life in the 90’s ❤️

[@sherrytaylor7166]

I LOVE THIS SONG 🎵 it’s on my playlist and I’m 68 years old and still listening congratulations R E M 💙👍🏼

[@Chella328]

Hi Sherry, Thank You, so much For your comment. We are on the same Page Name age, music Etc etc

[@jenniferbarron9060]

It’s true. Michael Stipe had a thing about love songs, meaning he hated them and calling them odious. But another musician once told me that “people are in danger of taking themselves too seriously, and frankly people just don’t want to hear it”.

[@Michael-bk5nz]

Isn't the fact that the song is about unrequited love really obvious the first time you hear it?

[@southerncharity7928]

My bro, be honest, that was the first time you ever said or wrote unrequited. Lol

[@B.b.b...]

Right? 😂😂😂

[@avinashsingh6451]

Watching as Losing My Religion completes 33 years today.

[@stephenmccormackdublinboy]

33 ✨️⚡️👑

[@anubisrapture992]

I’m a Gen X now, but when that song first came out I was a 20 something year old living w my much older boyfriend . But my first love before him was speedballs: coke Heroin , or Heroin and meth. He tried and tried to stop me. When we first heard it on the radio we both were in shock. He was from a Catholic family as well, tho a hippie carpenter all around sweet good guy. He said to me” Listen this is how I feel watching you kill yourself , 😢and I cannot stop you. We held each other and just cried. I wanted to know HOW THE FUCK DOES MICHAEL STIPE KNOW US ? Now I have outlived this good man, and he died of cancer. I’m off the needle and in a program. But every time I hear or think of this song I wish I could tell my beloved Eric that I loved him and how sorry I am .

[@stephenmccormackdublinboy]

There is that number again 33 fallen 😇

[@rodrigomartins4104]

​@@anubisrapture992what a story, I felt moving. I had to struggle with addiction when I was teen, and R.E.M. was there to help me through this ordeal, so in a certain way I feel connected with what you told me by music and life experiences. Hope you're doing well now. Cheers from Brazil

[@steviedfromtheflyovercount4739]

Love that song. That's for the history and meaning of it.

[@CheezLoord]

I didn't really listen to the lyrics until they happened to me.

[@anubisrapture992]

And oh my God then did they ever hit hard 😮

[@evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879]

She says,"Dad's the one I love the most, but Stipe's not far behind."

[@xx7secondsxx]

I had a girl leave me a dear John letter and all. I was "wow!".... and was okay for a lil while. I remember playing Guitar hero to just chill n mellow and relax. This song came on and and it ALL HIT ME AT ONCE!! I started balling as I was playing the song still. Hearing Stype say it was about that... Makes my soul feel more sensible

[@lauracainmoore1349]

One of my favorite songs 🎉🎉😂😂❤❤

[@wonderwalledit]

Wow I love this song! Now knowing the true meaning of it, I love it even more so and relate to it. :-)💕

[@jeanlloydbradberry9099]

One of the greatest ever! REAL "art"! Eat THAT, Taylor Not-so-...!

[@anubisrapture992]

@@jeanlloydbradberry9099she’s a good person. But her songs are bubblegum and azz tbh

[@stclarebacon4419]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉I love that song I will never ever ever ever stop playing it

[@tia2all501]

I knew that! I’ve also been there too 💔

[@IWH559]

I feel like producing relatable work is every artists desire. I don’t find this song cryptic at all, can’t believe some people couldn’t get past the title and listen to the rest of the lyrics. Maybe they were smart to use a title as such and gain attention. Such a good song. I was wondering what stringed instrument was used for it! Now I know (:

[@kristiefloyd3922]

Absolutely it fills your heart!

[@jameskeel]

I love the song. I could relate too. Thanks for sharing.

[@tammyeime5070]

Its about unrequited love …. Thats why Brenda played it 1000 times when Dillon broke up with her.

[@Cool_Guy_2437]

I’m happy I finally know what it means (Thanks)

[@user-ee9gw8bj4g]

Thank you, I am not alone. ❤😊

[@marvinthemaniac7698]

I taught myself how to play Losing My Religion on the mandolin.

[@daviddruid6148]

It's about REM sleep phase cloning technology and the deep underground cloning stations. It depicts what goes through the mind of a person who awakens there, not understanding if it's real or not. See Donald Marshall.

[@carolphillips1593]

Awesome song, through and through.

[@JoshPenalty]

As someone raised in the American South, I can't explain HOW many times I've acknowledged losing my religion is a phrase. In a sentence, I'm losing my religion over how many people misunderstand the meaning behind the song. Also, I think I've read somewhere that Michael Stipe wrote this as a gay love song. Considering it was the 90s, of course he, as the frontman for a popular, touring band, he would write it to be less obvious.

[@ruthanngalt7402]

Michael Stripe said that it's a Southern thing in an interwiew I watched.

[@martasousa8079]

Essa música é linda 🥰👏👏👏 lindo grupo 🥰

[@alberta1st]

Awesome review!

[@joannenix8497]

Love it ! ❤

[@kornelparoczai1763]

When I heard this song after making it through about 2 years of an unrequited love, it was about nothing else. It was about what I just went through, to a tee. It hit like a truck. No song ever came this close to being this personal. I thought it was obvious though, even outside of it speaking to me on a personal level.

[@frankenviews4069]

I always felt that the song was about someone who was fighting to keep a relationship going where his/her partner was constantly F'ing up and the protagonist was reaching their limit. Losing their faith.

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

It's a southern saying meaning you're about to get your ass whooped

[@01shamit]

I think it's more about spirituality and relationships with people.

[@hernandezmarkie7382]

Awesome content just subbed

[@junius4828]

Yeah 😎🙏🇵🇭

[@toejamandearl8110]

Incorrect - It's not a southern expression. The expression comes from Asian countries. When someone loses their religion, it means they're losing their mind, going crazy, etc. So, the song is a love song about going crazy either with or by a lover. And this information comes from the band members themselves as they were questioned on MTV, live in 1991.

[@HarrisonHollers]

Rythym and Tone! That makes a great pop song!

[@think2086]

The "religion" he is losing is one in which she is his goddess.

[@anonymousguy720]

“Losing my religion” means in southern shorthand; swearing, cursing, insulting, and complaining frivolously. Life after a break up; complaining into the air about every little thing a person did wrong, when no one is around, just to be angry and let it all out.

[@michaelmccarthy2369]

Jesus is lord 🙏

[@think2086]

If you're in a cult.@@michaelmccarthy2369

[@terrycynthiaglazier4228]

WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE THIS SONG AND REM 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱✝️✝️✝️🙏🙏🙏💜💜💜👨🏻👩🏻

[@robbiepeterh]

I just thought it was like the English phrase “I’m losing the will to live” We say it. But humorously so.

[@BeeBop1029]

I saw them when they were absolutely nobody’s in Knoxville in 1981 or 2. I tried talking to Michael stype between sets. I was pretty drunk and he totally ignored me. Probably a good idea. A lot of fans showed up in pajamas and I thought that was weird.

[@alekkoomanoff7281]

In the South, " Losing my Religion" also referred to losing one's virginity. Whatever, it was their breakout song and huge on MTV(younguns will be mystified by that). "

[@sebastianuczak7879]

Rem numer 1 wszystkie albumy są przecudne

[@alexcaneco]

It's hard to believe this narrative, because if It's not about religion, BUT shows Saints, Angels, Siddhartha Gautama, Hindi Gods, Communism, Etc... I love the Song and for me... It's About Religion...! lol

[@GpG-dt4su]

I've never listened to this song and thought, yeah that's anti-religious. It's just a good song.

[@lucienesilva4998]

❤❤❤❤

[@DarlinJacq]

As the Girlfriend In A Coma, I have been PINING for King SteVen Patrick Morrissey for All'ahv the time In My Life so, really, I AM "Losing My Religion..."

[@EviFirch]

So Sad 😢😢😢

[@mfst100]

So it's just another song of unhappy love and unfulfilled desire. The simplest recipe for a melanholic song.

[@aileenquiroz4453]

It’s. Classic

[@messinalyle4030]

Even though I've barely left Tennessee, I still have yet to hear the expression "losing my religion" other than in this song. Is this because it was commonly used by people older than me (born 1979) or because it's more of a "Deep South" expression?

[@janet.osmonson7451]

Stunning that the cults didnt burn REM records over this cool tune!!!! Prolly only reason was that sector knew what he really meant..Thank --- Lol

[@sotidim]

Dude that's not POP is ROCK music.

[@russkate88]

The only REM Song I like.

[@layeralone]

Yeah, that's me

[@ricardo6007able]

It should be about religion, because most likely he talking about religion on this song.

[@John-cw4no]

Artists should never explain. Often, as in this case, it's a lot dumber than what you made up in your head. Don't try to understand blind squirrels that found a nut

[@CrispyGrey]

BS. They got the lyrics from Chester. Chester got them from me, Eugene. It will be proven in court but they say I am too evil to benefit from it.

[@adrianmejia4997]

Is a perfect song what u talking about🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@xz3ss]

Did he just call it pop?

[@coolnamebro]

Pop is short for popular. The song is extremely popular. It's pop.

[@B.b.b...]

I was loving this song after a sad break up, and lo and behold, it attracted Satanists into my world! Thanks for the wake up call, it's good to know who people really are! 😂 Fools

[@kennypowers1945]

I left Christianity/all religion December 2022 and not gonna lie this song made me feel good about leaving my old life

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

Except that’s not what the song is about

[@theartchannel6016]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606doesn’t matter, songs and music are meant to be interpreted. No matter what the original artists intent was.

[@gungunggadung6792]

That’s too bad.

[@GloriaValencia-bm4rz]

One day you are going to be very sorry if you don't comeback of what you were before...

[@anubisrapture992]

@@GloriaValencia-bm4rzHow bout naaa, You do not need the man made manipulative shaming and hating Church to have a true relationship w the Divine

[@jonjahr3403]

Losing my religion might not actually be about losing one's religious beliefs. However, I'm an Ex Mormon, and i know many formerly religious people (myself included) for whom that song might as well be our anthem. So no matter its purpose, WE LOVE IT!

[@emmirey4640]

Calling BS. have you seen the video?

[@benkamal7284]

Pop music?

[@carlgreisheimer8701]

Pines

[@rockiqofficial]

pop music?

[@dyrtyharry6789]

Even if it was about religion... who was anyone to chritsize anyone else's freedom of expression or their expression of faith? _Those were the ones who lost the religion for everyone else..._ The never-ending nerve of some people, eh? 🔆➕🌛

[@sb2126]

Well I lost my religion ages ago and as far as I'm concerned, its about having to pretend your interested in a religion that your not interested in and realizing you can't stand being around people who wont quit preaching about what you are constantly thinking is useless bullsht.

[@s.c7639]

Duh

[@edgarcastillo3195]

True meaning? It's a gay song. All due respect. Check this out. The "hint" of the century. Consider this. "The slip"

[@sweet.n.soursauce]

I'm so happy to see someone saying this. Every single line of this song points to it being about the struggles of coming out as gay in the deep south, and it all makes so much more sense after learning that Michael's father and grandfather were both ministers. Such an emotionally heavy song

[@keffinmckn3602]

Clueless interpretation. Unnecessarily misconstrued

[@kimmeijer7945]

Do you?? Let me give you a bridge; "Sad Professor" i guotte: Dear reader, If we're talking about Love... then i have to tell you: dear readers i'm not shore where i'm heading,...if gotten lost before..

[@lancebozman2163]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 , no that is not what this song is about. Most hit songs are about , most hit songs are purposefully written and chosen to take the listener further from Mother/ father-God/creator . He wrote song as self admittance that there was no going back from his commitment to his God , Lucifer.

[@anubisrapture992]

Pure nonsense.

[@janet.osmonson7451]

Lance...Doesn't da book include something about Judging?....Will never even try to understand Yer trip....Suggest listening to some more music...

[@pbg9208]

there is no god get over it