anonymous October 11th, 2005 11:41PM  
To correct earlier postings, this is NOT off the Monster album (which is indeed dedicated to River Phoenix -- "For River") but rather off Automatic for the People. Michael Stipe explained it as a song for people going through tough times -- and essentially saying "It happens to everyone, and I'm here for you." While he was close with Phoenix, this song was not about him.

anonymous January 3rd, 2006 04:21PM  
Basically it's about people go through many struggles and obstacles in life but you can go through it because many other people (friends, family) go through it as well. We all are human. Life is not perfect.

anonymous June 4th, 2006 11:00AM  
It seems like it is reaching out to those who think about committing suicide:
"When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on."
It is preaching the fact that there is always someone to look out for you, you just may not know it.
"When your day is night alone"
This is enforcing the suicide issue. Basically, when you are that down, your days will be full of your own dark sorrow and it will seem that it is all night.

anonymous December 24th, 2007 01:50PM  
This song came out a year before Cobain's suicide. Cobain and Stipe were very close, and Stipe was one of the last people to talk to Kurt and try to help him. But it is said when Cobain killed himself he was listening to this song. They don't know for sure, but when investigators found his body R.E.M. was still playing on his stereo.....Just some info for ya.

anonymous March 20th, 2008 06:26PM  
This song is about how I feel at the moment. I have to be strong. My 3 children need me. The oldest is only 3 and my partner has left me. I hurt so much.

tatbrat June 23rd, 2008 01:25AM  
Everyone has moments in life where they feel they want to give up, but hang on! It will get better!

anonymous October 31st, 2009 07:41PM  
I Think It's just about the death of a loved one, and we all need to grieve and go through the process,and once we have gone through that then we can move on, but we will never forget.

anonymous November 9th, 2009 09:41PM  
It is aimed at teens killing themselves because highschool is such hell for them, look it up on wikipedia.