R.E.M. Was An American Rock Band From Athens Georgia Formed In 1980 By Drummer Bill Berry Guitarist Peter Buck Bassist/backing Vocalist Mike Mills And Lead Vocalist Michael Stipe. One Of The First Alternative Rock Bands R.E.M. Was Noted For Buck's Ringing Arpeggiated Guitar Style Stipe's Distinctive Vocal Quality And Obscure Lyrics Mills's Melodic Basslines And Backing Vocals And Berry's Tight Economical Style Of Drumming. R.E.M. Released Its First Single—"Radio Free Europe"—in 1981 On The Independent Record Label Hib-Tone. Read More On Last.Fm
Track 11 Of 12 On The Album Automatic For The People. In The Liner Notes Of 'In Time The Best Of R.E.M.' 2003 Guitarist Peter Buck Says That This Is The Only R.E.M. Song Where The Lyrics Came Before The Music. Lead Singer Michael Stipe Told Buck & Bassist/ Keyboardist Mike Mills He Had Written A Full Set Of Lyrics & Maybe They Could Find Some Suitable Music. When The Band Returned To The Studio Mills Played A Piece On The Piano Which Fit Stipe's Lyrics Perfectly. The Song Is Supposedly About Swimming Naked At Night Or 'skinny Dipping' But Many Have Their Own Interpretations.