Volume 28, Track 11
Posted on | January 26, 2012 | No Comments
“Second Guessing” by R.E.M. (1984)
Here are the lyrics to “Second Guessing,” the song that opens side two (Right) on Reckoning:
“Why’re you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing
What will be your look this season?
Who will be your book this season?
(chorus)
Here we are, here we are, here we are
Why’re you trying to second guess me?
I am tired of second guessing
What will be your look this season?
Be in my club, write a book this season”
To just read the lyrics as they are is an exercise in being underwhelmed. There’s not much here quite frankly. But like so many of R.E.M.’s early songs the lyrics aren’t real weighty or meaty as much as they are vessels by which Michael Stipe can do his vocal thing—his semi gravel-y, Southern vocal thing. If you just read the lyrics you miss the Woooo-ooo-oooo‘s and the degree of singability the song has with the music that accompanies it. It is songs like “Second Guessing” that steer me toward the notion that the meaning of a song’s lyrics aren’t always important or central to enjoying the song. Sometimes, it’s better to just sing along and let the music soak into you and not really care what the point of it all is.
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