940,676 plays (210,412 listeners)
Track 11 of 12 on the album Automatic For The People.
In the liner notes of ‘In Time: The Best of R.E.M.’ (2003) guitarist Peter Buck says that this is the only R.E.M. song where the lyrics came before the music. Lead singer Michael Stipe told Buck & bassist/ keyboardist Mike Mills he had written a full set of lyrics & maybe they could find some suitable music. When the band returned to the studio, Mills played a piece on the piano which fit Stipe’s lyrics perfectly.
The song is supposedly about swimming naked at night (or ‘skinny dipping’) but many have their own interpretations.
In the liner notes of ‘In Time: The Best of R.E.M.’ (2003) guitarist Peter Buck says that this is the only R.E.M. song where the lyrics came before the music. Lead singer Michael Stipe told Buck & bassist/ keyboardist Mike Mills he had written a full set of lyrics & maybe they could find some suitable music. When the band returned to the studio, Mills played a piece on the piano which fit Stipe’s lyrics perfectly.
The song is supposedly about swimming naked at night (or ‘skinny dipping’) but many have their own interpretations.
Video
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R.E.M. plays "Nightswimming". Live on Jools Holland.
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Albums featuring this track
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Automatic for the People
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In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
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Star Profile
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Nightswimming
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Shouts
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luvnrokits wrote:
Jasmine, summer moon, warm breezes, days gone by. It's all we ever had. I'm not sure all these people understand....
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PrettyStar wrote:
самая осенняя песня
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APRILELIZ wrote:
yeah this definately evokes some deep emotion. and everytime is like the first time i heard it
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kamyk34 wrote:
for me - probably best song ever - It gets deep to my soul, moves my heart, makes me cry - I just love it
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slicedonion wrote:
i can only listen to Nightswimming when i'm brave enough for the melancholy this song wakes up in me every single time.
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bluebellknoll wrote:
So beautiful...
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kaprycornio wrote:
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago Turned around backwards so the windshield shows.Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse 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...It's not like years ago,The fear of getting caught Of recklessness and water.They cannot see me naked.These things, they go away Replaced by everyday.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 You, I thought I knew you...You, I cannot judge You, I thought you knew me,This one laughing quietly underneath my breath Nightswimming...The photograph reflects, Every streetlight a reminder...Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night
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adamb08 wrote:
oh my god, what a piece of music and so simple, awesomeness
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jmc123456 wrote:
Great song! So simple music, strings and Oboe only, I love it.
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Steev_Umc wrote:
Soooo freaking beautiful... ♥
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MikeGMY wrote:
I invite people to try this one night in a Karaoke setting-my very favorite song to perform. Interesting story on how the song came together lyrics first.
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hubbcappp wrote:
A brilliant melody. Yet another song that brings to mind all things bucolic.
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mrshopkins73 wrote:
♥
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Sponder813 wrote:
LOVE REM ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS EVER
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boudrou20 wrote:
one of the best REM songs
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Deformografy wrote:
this is one of the best songs in history of music imo
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pessimystica wrote:
luv the oboe part... was always playing along to it on my oboe when this song came out in '93 :)
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jsmyers91 wrote:
OMG breathtaking
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szejper wrote:
great song, awesome band
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MirrorDepth wrote:
Nightswimming... deserves a quiet night~ .Beautiful song. ♥ it.
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Recent Activity
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mattfinlayson, far_cannell, gewoon_gijs and 2 other people loved R.E.M. – Nightswimming. 17 minutes ago
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mzmzmzmzmzmzmzm added Nightswimming to mzmzmzmzmzmzmzm’s library. 15 hours ago
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mzmzmzmzmzmzmzm added Nightswimming to the playlist My Playlist #196. 15 hours ago
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bojeemus added Nightswimming to the playlist Introspective. 17 hours ago
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