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Borrowed Words: South Central Rain by REM

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One of my favorite REM songs is South Central Rain. It was one of the first REM songs I’d ever heard. It tapped into an angst that I had no idea ever existed. I loved the lines:

Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away

The line rivers of suggestion grabbed me and never let go. The funny thing is I can’t think of any particular memory that I can attach it to. I thought it was just good writing.

I like Stipe’s ambiguity. Growing up, it was pretty much your guess was as good as mine. With the help of the internet, meanings behind songs are easier to grasp. But sometimes it’s not the meaning, it’s the pairing of words that get me, like in this one.

Today, I thought I’d borrow a few words from the lyrics. This is just a little experiment, we’ll see if I try this again.

—

I waited for you

On the river without a dream

Words on rocks, not bound to follow the trees

Conversations, another choice

Calling me away

Your dream, this isn’t mine

I’m sorry

—

South Central Rain – REM

Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The trees will bend, the cities wash away
The city on the river there is a girl without a dream
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry

Eastern to Mountain, third party call, the lines are down
The wise man built his words upon the rocks
But I’m not bound to follow suit
The trees will bend, the conversations dimmed
Go build yourself another home, this choice isn’t mine
I’m sorry, I’m sorry

Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The ocean sang, the conversations dimmed
Go build yourself another dream, this choice isn’t mine
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry

16 thoughts on “Borrowed Words: South Central Rain by REM”

  2. super good! this is called “blackout poetry”– or, that’s what some of my poetry friends call it. ❤ *technically, blackout poetry is when you do this with someone else's poem, as opposed to song lyrics– but so many people describe song lyrics as poetry, so i think it works beautifully here!

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