Thomas Schulze 
Analysis of R.E.M.’s song ‘Nightswimming’ [PDF ebook] 

Essay from the year 2009 in the subject Didactics for the subject English — Discussion and Essays, grade: 1, 0, Humboldt-University of Berlin (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Seminar — Pop Lyrics – Pop Poetry, language: English, abstract: The Song “Nightswimming” was written and performed by the influential American Alternative rock band R.E.M. and appeared on their 1992 album “Automatic for the People”. It sold over 3.5 Million copies in North America and had a huge influence on American rock music for the next decades. “Nightswimming’ is sung by R.E.M.’s singer Michael Stipe, accompanied only by bassist Mike Mills on the piano and a string arrangement in the background of the song. There are many different theories about its meaning, lyrical intention and message in detail. Therefore, I will have a close look at the song’s structure and some formal aspects, various possible interpretations and their reflection in stylistic means, continue with a personal approach to the song and finish with a conclusion.