Michael Stipe Reflects On The Rumors Over R.E.M.’s ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It’”

R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe spoke in a recent interview with Jacobin magazine and clarified the rumors about the band’s song ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).’

‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’ is the second single from 1987’s ‘Document’ album. The song reached number 69 in US Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 in UK Singles charts.

The lyrics of the song have many diverse references. The most popular opinion about the lyrics was that they actually refer to  policy debate, even though Michael Stipe never confirmed such a thing in the interviews he joined.

In a recent conversation with Jacobin, Stipe opened up about the speculations over one of R.E.M.’s most popular songs. During the interview, Michael refused the rumors about the song and stated that none of them were true. According to Michael, people should focus on the part that says ‘as we know it’ in the song’s title.

While Michael stated that we are now in the middle of a point that will forever be considered the before and after, he also mentioned that he doesn’t know if the country is moving in the right direction or not.

Michael talked about the political rumors about the ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’ song in the interview:

“Those rumors are untrue. The important part of the title is ‘as we know it.’ That’s where we find ourselves now.

The current vice president described this political moment as an inflection point, which is not quite accurate. But we’re absolutely at a middle ground between two epochs that will forever be considered the before and after.

And I don’t know that we as a country are moving in the right direction. There are certainly things about who we are that are absolutely beautiful. But, these days, you have to really search to find them.”

Later in the conversation, Michael also talked about his political thoughts and his family’s political history. According to Michael, he supported Bernie Sanders back in the 2016 presidental debates.