Life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up

That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up

Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
That was just a dream

The song is a classic obsession song. It's about someone who pines for someone else. It's unrequited love, what have you.
Michael Stipe

(It) could be a comment on the state of the world, very easily. In fact, it's an extension of 'World Leader Pretend'.
Michael Stipe

(It's) nothing more than a fairly well-written obsession song that was widely misinterpreted... I was trying to write 'Every Breath You Take'. Is that embarrassing? I don't think so. It's a great song; I was trying to write a better one.
Michael Stipe

I think 'Losing My Religion' is autobiographical.
Peter Buck

That's totally live - acoustic guitars, bass, mandolin and drums. No overdubs, no changes. Mike put down the string part.
Peter Buck

Quotes collected from 'R.E.M. - In Their Own Words' by Peter Hogan

Lyrics are based on fans interpretations and are not official.

All R.E.M. originals written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

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By jesse limon

By ilaria Is my Schools IT technician,

By Gazz M. and SETH ARMSTRONG THE GREATEST SINGLE EVER RELEASED!!!!!!!!!!!!

By george e

By Ainho This music it's just a dream!
U guys 'R' just

By Anna It's a wonderfull song. It makes me feel in peace. A aprecciate how they make so beautiful songs.

By Felipe Pan One of R.E.M.s greatest songs!!!!!!!!!!!!

By BLAIR This song is a great pop song; that's all. It's not their best song, and I would argue it's not even the best song on the album. Listen to Belong, Near Wild Heaven, Half a World Away, or Country Feedback and tell me they are not all nearly as good if not better than LMR.

By Doug I would just like to express what great sygnificance that this song holds for me. To my ears it's meening trancends love and moves to a rarely seen loss in some people's exystence. Those people have done precicely what the song intones, lost their religion. And you have captured the very ecence of that life changeing experience.

It begins with a realization that there is more in the world than what you once knew. That you are different from the others because of what you know. But then you hint at your findings to one of them, and you realize that you have overstepped the bounds.

And you become isolated, hiding away at every social function and yet the center of attention. You learn to guard your words, but it doesn't help. each lie is a sting to a soul that you no longer even know for certain exists.

So you prepare to tell them, and come to grips with your lastingly altered life. Yet you hesitate, fearing that some lasting reperation will result. At last you tell them, but they do not understand. they seek to save you, to bring the lamb back to the fold. It means nothing. The only result is deeper pain.

But one person, someone who always seemed to sympithyse with you in any insance, listens, and for one fleeting, breef minuit, they begin to think. But the moment disapears, and they are just like the others again.

Then you are free. You are humbled by the experience, given a new state of mind, and released upon the world as a wiser person.

That is just what I think of it. weather that is the truth, I cannot say.

By Dalan Simmons This song just drives me crazy!!!
I love R.E.M! Their music makes me feel so...myself.
That's all.

By Denisa This song just drives me crazy!!!
I love R.E.M! Their music makes me feel so...myself.
That's all.

By Denisa i love this song and rem. i like dalan's interpretation of the song. it's the same way i feel about it.

By saj

By kami i dont know what to say for this perfect song,i try to listen LOSING MY RELIGION every day and every day i cry,because i lost 3 of my best friends-they went to study in usa and icry for them because this is our song.i couldnt express very well my feeling about this song-because the words are too small for this

By kami "Losing My Religion" is an old Southern expression meaning "I am at my wits end". I'm sure that's what was intended by the chorus.

By Shane The song seems to be in a strong parallel with TSElliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" They both talk of someone who is afraid to become noticed, but who doesn't want to be ignored either.

By Naios i agree with you michael i think he's doing everything to get her but she's laughing at him.

By lucy The interesting part of the lyrics for me is the paradox between having said "too much" or "not enough" at the same time. I totally can relate.

By Shane REAL MASTERPEACE
BEST I EVER HEARD
COOL
THANKS GUYS

By Alex Dediusko good afternoon,
great tune one for the saints !
cheers
'arry ...

By 'arry The song is sung from God's perspective. Think about it. God "set it up" and has said too much but also not enough. God is in the corner and the spotlight. The opening analogy--Life is bigger than you, but you are not me. This means life is not bigger than the narrator--GOD. :-)

By Scott defentely the best song in this album

By shirley This song is making my job more difficult. According to an american friend of mine, I must think, "fucking american atheists". But I don't think that. I just wish REM would do a concert in the vatican. That way I could find them in the spot light.

By John Paul This song is like me and my thoughts a few years ago.Absolutely!These lyrics was my daily reality.Now it´s almost the same with another boy but I haven´t lost my religion yet, I still hope........

Also thank u guys.Your music helps me in bad times & I have a great enjoyment of it when I feel good

By Kate Admittedly i only heard the song once and it was a reflection of what was happening to me. Setting this aside, my interpretation of the lyrics - 'losing my religion' is like losing one's faith in love and if you can discover it.
'i thought that i heard you...(etc)' refers to the partner lulling you into a false sense of security; one where you open yourself to them. When you realise you aren't secure you lose your faith in love and also in the value of opening yourself to someone. Like I say I've only heard it once so appologies to hardcore REM fans if i've bastardised the song!

By Stu yo, what's dis shit about? losing my religion? dat song is madd confusin yo! help me out wit dis shit.!

By shiiiittt Many people get astonished that I'm listening to music that was written before my time, but for some reason I perfer the past, especially R.E.M. If it wasn't for their songs I wouldn't have anything in mylife that consoles me! Thnk You!!

By Evelyn Cortez je suis francais, et rem est mon groupe de rock préféré!!! ces chansons et ces textes sont magnifiques!!!!(meme si je ne comprend pas tout...)

By mathieu Apart from the great song itself, its title captures a strong theme in the life of those of us that share a post-religious worldview.

By Nico van Belzen 'Losing my religion' Is aparently a southern phrase, meaning, at the end of my tether.
The songs universal apeal is outstanding as it literally speaks for thousands of people in a way that barely any of them could express. It is an incredible pop song, It apeals to those who take it at face value, through it's addictive sound (mandolin) the intro, the words, the chorus- trademark. And ofcourse it has another dimension for those who appreciate the power of the phrase and expression, that 'Losing my religion' masterfully showcases

By Neeve I I would like ti know what is really the meaning of this song
To who is talking the singer ? and about what exactly ?

By Indira hi always a fan of REM they rock! must admit, tis a very good site! keep up the good work! xxxx

By Jessica Apes Me encanta esta cancion hay algo en ella que trasiende las palabras y se vuelve puro sentimiento , en su conjunto es una de las mejores que escuche en mi vida !! de esas que te van a gustar por siempre!...

By Marina this song is one of the best ever....
GREAT!!!!!
greetz.....
Stefan.....

By Stefan van Oudheusden This song holds great significance for me; I first heard it when I started secondary school, and on the first day I had a huge row with all my friends. This song was a comfort, and helped me move on and make new friends. Thank you Michael!

By R.E.M.forever The singer seems to be talking about what he should've done when him and somebody else were going out. Also seems like he's happy they're not together any more. But most interesting of all, is it seems real true to what has happened to him, and thousands of others.

By Candis Kennedy this song is like a drug.... u want to shake your head , bang your hands, you can be so into the song, u forget everything , u r in peace.......think i said too much

By shweta Best song ever

By Mimi This is a very kool song. Everytime I hear this song, I just have to sing along with it. It's a real classic.

By Morise It is one of R.E.M.'s most popular songs and deserves to be acknowledged for what it is. It is different to every other chart hit in the respect that they use completely different instruments and make it sound dreamy. Michael's voice is unique and beautiful. This song is inspiring and it came out when I was just about to be 2 years old! I even remember it from then!Peace xxx

By Kara