Michael Stipe clarifies more lyrics from R.E.M.’s ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It’ that fans get wrong

Michael Stipe has clarified yet more lyrics from R.E.M.’s ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’ that fans have consistently got wrong over the years.

• Read More: NME meets R.E.M.: “We needed swagger – to be loud and raw”

The rapid-fire lyrics to the 1987 classic have long been the source of debate amongst fans, with Stipe’s signature under-enunciated delivery style during the band’s early days only further muddying the waters – until last month.

After several decades of confusion, the frontman took to Bluesky to shed some light on a handful of lines. In doing so, he confirmed that many of the internet’s most trusted lyric sources have been incorrect for years, a fact not helped by R.E.M.’s choice not to print their lyrics in album liner notes during their time with I.R.S. Records in the 1980s.

Now, he’s followed up his initial posts by revealing the precise wording of more lines.

“Uh-oh, overflow, population ‘common food, but it’ll do’, save yourself, serve yourself, world serves its own needs—listen to your heart bleed, dummy with the raptured and the revered and the right, right”And let it be said I’m of the lets eat grandma school of punctuation, so

— Michael Stipe (@michaelstipe.bsky.social) 2025-09-07T15:30:18.364Z

@millsish.bsky.social Mike Mills says “Love your posts on BlueSky, but wasn’t it “that low plane, fine, then” not “flying” , then? I remember you said it was from a roadside sign about watch out for low planes flying. But that was a long time ago.”So Im doing my best. Thx Mike!xxx

— Michael Stipe (@michaelstipe.bsky.social) 2025-09-06T04:12:22.347Z

As if in an effort to highlight how confusing the lyrics are, he told fans that bandmate Mike Mills had told him he thought the line was actually “that low plane, fine, then,” telling Stipe, “I remember you said it was from a roadside sign about watch out for low planes flying,” to which Stipe replied: “I’m doing my best.”

Over the weekend, Stipe steadily cleared up the correct versions of more lines from the song, beginning with: “Feed it off an aux, speak/ Grunt no strength, the ladder start to clatter with fear fight down height/ Wire in a fire representing seven games, a government for hire and a combat site.”

He later posted another line with: “Uh-oh, overflow, population ‘common food, but it’ll do’/ Save yourself, serve yourself, world serves its own needs/ Listen to your heart bleed, dummy with the raptured and the revered and the right, right,” but with a brief disclaimer: “And let it be said I’m of the lets eat grandma school of punctuation, so.”

In May, R.E.M. announced details of ‘Radio Free Europe 2025’, a benefit EP featuring a never-before-released remix of the band’s debut single from Jacknife Lee. The limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl pressing will be available from September 12.

Next year, the band’s 1990s albums ‘Monster’ and ‘New Adventures In Hi-Fi’ will be used as part of the series Silents Synced, in which classic albums are paired live with vintage silent movies. The records will play alongside Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr.

Actor Michael Shannon and Chicago musician Jason Narducy will play their latest tour of R.E.M. full-album shows in 2026 when they take 1986’s ‘Lifes Rich Pageant’ on the road for its 40th anniversary. One of their shows in Athens, Georgia in February saw all four members of R.E.M. join them on stage for a full-band version of ‘Pretty Persuasion’.

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