My Gen X Playlist: Near Wild Heaven – REM

I remember as a kid, we used to say the pledge of allegiance every morning at school. It was a big deal to be the one assigned to lead it. It’s funny, because all that kid had to do was stand in front of the class and say, “Ready, begin.” But I guess at that age, it was a big deal. The degree of responsibility is all relative, I suppose.

When I was in college, I remember watching the Olympics with some friends. I assumed we were all rooting for the US. It was surprising to find some of my friends also rooting for other teams. It turns out, they were born in other countries and immigrated to the US when they were young. It was interesting to watch them cheer on two countries, instead of one. That was new for me. But I get it. Sometimes people have a connection to two homes and it’s OK to love two lands. You can’t forget where you came from. It’s a part of who you are.

When I lived abroad, I saw first hand the differences of America. Some were good, others were bad. It’s easy to focus only on the bad. It sometimes overshadows everything else. There is an expectation of the good so it doesn’t receive the spotlight. But not everyone is fortunate to live with these expectations day in and day out. It’s easy to take it for granted. You don’t know what you have until it’s lost.

Voting is a patriotic right. This next election is going to be an important one. There is so much on the line. Make sure you get out and vote. The decision is in our hands.

Remember Rock the Vote in the 90’s? In 1993, the National Voters Registration Act (NVRA) revolutionized voter registration across the country. Rock the Vote and REM played pivotal roles in it’s passage.

It is because of the NVRA that eligible voters can register to vote at their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) earning the law the nickname “Motor Voter”.

In the early 1990s, Rock the Vote launched a major national campaign to support the passage of the NVRA. 

Rock the Vote teamed up with alternative rock band R.E.M. to include “Dear Senator. I support the Motor Voter bill.” postcards in the CD sleevesopens a new window of their Grammy Nominated “Out of Time” album. As a result, more than 100,000 postcards were sent to Congress in support of the NVRA.

– rockthevote

Clever to add a postcard to Out of Time CD sleeve. This CD had a major impact on voting and is one of my favorites from REM. Near Wild Heaven is a great track from the album.

Enjoy.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Whenever we hold each other
We hold each other
There's a feeling that's gone
Something has gone wrong

And I don't know how much longer I can take it
House made of heart, break it
Take my head in your hands and shake it
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough

(Inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

Whatever it takes I'm giving
It's just a gift I'm given
Try to live inside
Trying to move inside

And I always thought that it would make me smarter
But it's only made me harder
My heart thrown open wide
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough

(Inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

I'm holding my hands together
Holding my feet together
Holding myself together
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough

Near wild heaven
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven

(Living inside, living inside, living inside)
Near wild heaven