I generally gravitate to the music first before the lyrics. But as a writer, I still marvel at well-spun verses and choruses. This month, I’m joining the music Twitter community in #SeptSongLyricChallenge

Day 29

I miss 80’s R.E.M. It seems the band has seen a recent resurgence. And as music fans recall some of the band’s greatest moments, I’m reminded how deep and prolific their catalog was. Murmur, Reckoning, and Fables of the Reconstruction are all classics. But my favorite album from the band is Document – and “Finest Worksong” is my favorite track from the record. Up until Document, R.E.M. made a name for themselves on college rock radio stations as mid-tempo rockers. But on Document, they expressed that mid-tempo agenda with a variety of intensities and sonic power. “Finest Worksong” is an ode to doing what we gotta do, and sometimes that’s all you can ask for in a rock song.

“Take your instinct by the reins. Better best to rearrange. What we want and what we need has been confused, been confused.”