An Interpretation - Nightswimming

A lot of my favorite songs have come from no place other than CTY. The canon list is a list of classics from the 70s' till now. And so, I felt that I have to pay tribute to R.E.M's Michael Stipe for writing one of the best songs ever - Nightswimming.

According to interviews, Stipe talked about how the song was about the early days of the band. They would go skinny dipping with friends in the summer, but that was a long time ago, a time back in their youth. However, I feel like there is definitely more than what meets to eye with this song. Here's my best to give a justified interpretation of the lyrics.


The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago,
the photograph denotes an item that the author holds dear to his heart, even though it's been a long time since the photo was taken

Turned around backwards so the windshield shows.
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse.
I feel like Stipe is trying to allude to an alternate fate and how, since much time has passed since the photo had been taken, he perhaps sees reality in a different light

Still, it's so much clearer.
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge.
The moon is low tonight.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
I'm not sure all these people understand.

He's actually talking about physically swimming at night. However, it's clear that he knows that the people today don't actually understand the meaning behind the action.

It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
Of recklessness and water.

This shows that the author is now older and feels differently about the same actions. Maybe, looking back on this "rebellious" act, he feels aged and wistful, that he cannot experience the same event again.

They cannot see me naked.
These things, they go away,
Replaced by everyday.

I feel like the author here is saying that "they" can't see him both physically naked, and "emotionally" naked. As in he's grown apart from some of these people, so to them, they no longer see the entirety of his being, of his soul.
'These things that go away ... everyday' talks about how even though these things (eg. the physical act of nightswimming) may not be here anymore, they're integrated in his everyday life, not necessarily replaced by the things in his older life.

Nightswimming, remembering that night.
September's coming soon.
I'm pining for the moon.
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
Could not describe nightswimming.

First, this is talking about how he misses the days of his youthful summer and how he longs for those moonlit adventures. The two moons he talks about, again, could be his referencing to two different realities, and how he sees the world in a second way. The "drum" is a metaphor. Drums keep time, and one of the first methods of keeping time was using the sun. By using this image, the author is hinting that this "tight" drum, will never stop beating and that it is constantly repeating its rhythm (emphasized even more, by the trademark piano riff which makes this song so memorable.)
Also, the sun and moon are traditionally referred to as opposites. Maybe Stipe's talking about something that was quite normal at the time, but now, is viewed as extraordinary. Something that seemed so mundane, is now inexplicably beautiful. In a way, maybe he wishes that he could have understood that, back then.
You, I thought I knew you.
You I cannot judge.
You, I thought you knew me,
This one laughing quietly underneath my breath.
Nightswimming.

I believe here, he's talking about this one person, or maybe a few of them, whom he loved. 'You I though I knew you' is talking about how he once loved this person and how he still does, as he is unable to judge them. But that person cannot remember him, as they don't 'know' him anymore. He finds this ironic, as even though the act of nightswimming is eternally unforgettable, love easily withers and dies. So he resorts to 'laughing.. underneath my breath'.


The photograph reflects, every streetlight a reminder.
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night.

This is Stipe's conclusion. The photograph  and the street-lights are mentioned once again. The first is to remind the audience of something that, even though has transpired long ago, is still something that haunts him to this day. The latter is talking of how he could see maybe a different Fate, and that now that he's 'grown up', he sees the world in a different light. The streetlights remind him of how he cannot turn back time to revisit the time of "nightswimming". And that, he will forever remember, during quiet nights of reminiscence.

We all have our ways of "nightswimming", so I guess doing what I'm doing now, is mine.

After the Hiatus

Here's me again after a hiatus.

I decided to write a song that I felt described being apart from something for a long time. I know there are billions of love ballads out there, but I feel like adding my 2 cents worth.

So here's to California Dreaming :)

I’ve been running around for far too long

Trying to catch a breath of fresh air

But I guess I know now that I don’t belong

In this smoke and mirrors fair

I’ve been chasing a dream in my heart of hearts

Trying to pin a moonbeam down

But I guess I know now where home is

Not in this crazy, self-assured town

To tell you the truth I’m still hanging on

I know you want me to move, but I can’t go on

Chorus:

I’m still California dreaming

Cos time’s just never enough

I’m still waiting crying bleeding

Because I still believe in love

I’m still California dreaming

Of a place I called my home

I’m alive but barely breathing

In love with a boy who I used to know

I’m still California dreaming

Waiting on a boy who might never know

Maybe he’ll forget all about me

Maybe that’s the way our story goes

I’ve been stuck in hell for far too long

But I guess I know now I still got my pride

You were next to me, haunting me all along

Mourning the day the music died           

I want to remember being not afraid

How we threw the doubters out

How we became heroes for the rest our days

How I saw courage in your face

To tell you the truth I’m still hanging on

I know you want me to move, but I can’t go on

Chorus x1

I’m still California wishing

That I’ll stay in your warm heart

I hope you’ll find what you wanted

What you want is in my arms

I’m still California Dreaming

Of how we built a world with our dreams

Maybe I’ll find that place again somday

And I’ll know who I want to be

Will I find that perfection again?

Will these dreams live on someday?

All I can do is cry and wait

May we last forever, let it be Fate

I’ve been keeping my head above the water

Figuring out what’s the truth

But I want you to know I’ll wait until
I can see another sunrise with you

Someday I will tell my children about you

A band rebels who conquered their fears

How we fought darkness side by side

Exchanging hope in place of tears

I’m still California dreaming

Of a place I called my home

I’m alive but barely breathing

In love with a boy I used to know

I’m still California dreaming

Waiting on a boy who might never know

Maybe he’ll forget all about me

Maybe that’s the way our story goes

I’m still California wishing

That I’ll stay in your warm heart

I hope you’ll find what you wanted

What you want is in my arms

I’m still California believing

we built a world with our own dreams

Maybe I’ll find that place again someday

And I’ll know who I want to be

I’m still California dreaming

I see a fate that’s just  me and you

Maybe you’ll join me again in a fairytale

Maybe my dreams will come true