mhjrdiii April 11th, 2006 02:24PM  
As obtuse as many REM songs can be, I think this one might losing someone as a relationship wanes and comes to a close. Maybe one moment two people are naked next to each other and then the next moment, they are at a party together and as you look around the room you can't help but wonder how long the relationship will last and "Who will leave you, where I left off?" Maybe one of the 11 shadows are acquantances who you share laughs with but might be the hangman that takes away the one you love.

anonymous September 1st, 2006 09:55PM  
I have some abstract thoughts on this song, but nothing concrete. I can offer this, though...

I read on several blogs that mills was inspired to write this song (I think it was mills, anyway...) while watching a high school football practice ending. Apparently, he was quoted in some interviews attesting to this fact. Then why the line about a dress?

The football practice story may account for the number 11 (11 players on a football team). But what about the dress? I hesitate to say that this may be a girl's physical encounter (reluctant or not, who knows?) with a bunch of football players. I am wrestling with the lines, 'pull your hair back', 'pull your dress on', 'drink another', and 'speak out sometimes'. Is this a girl being exploited, but is too needy and insecure to say/do anything about it? Also, why such a somber mood to the song?

Help?

ollie510 August 21st, 2007 03:11PM  
I once heard this song (I have a video cassette of their live tour made around 1989) and thought It's about being on acid and having hallucinations:
"eleven shadows way out of place"
"eleven gallows on your sleeve"
and trying to make sense out of all the chaos around you.
"drink another coin a phrase"
Hence the title, "Perfect Circle" You know, if you have ever taken acid, that it helps to be around good, very good, friends and to be comfortable, very comfortable, because weird things, very weird things, tend to occur.
I know this interpretation is pretty strange but hey it's Stipe and I don't think it's too weird and strange and elliptical for a guy like Stipe.
Hey kids, why doesn't somenone attempt an interpretation for "Drive"?