Near Wild Heaven by R.E.M. Lyrics Meaning – Unravelling the Euphoria in Earthly Bonds
Lyrics
We hold each other
There’s a feeling that’s going
Something has gone wrong
And I don’t know how much longer I can take it
House made of heart, break it
Take my head in your hands and shake it
In this, near wild heaven
Not near enough
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Whatever it takes, I’m giving
It’s just a gift I’m given
Try to live inside
Trying to move inside
And I always thought that it would make me smarter
But it’s only made me harder
My heart thrown open wide
This near wild heaven
Not near enough
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
I’m holding my hands together
I’m holding my feet together
I’m holding myself together
In this near wild heaven
Not near enough
Near wild heaven
Near wild heaven
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
Living inside, living inside, living inside (near wild heaven)
R.E.M.’s ‘Near Wild Heaven’ is not just a song—it’s an exploration into the depths of connection, an anthem for the intangible longings of the human heart. Its uplifting tempo and melodic harmonies juxtapose the complex emotions woven through the lyrics, penned during the band’s commercial peak in the early 1990s. The track from the album ‘Out of Time’ plays on the edge of elation and desolation, creating a hauntingly beautiful tension that resonates with listeners.
Why does ‘Near Wild Heaven’ strike a chord with so many? It is perhaps this enigmatic nature of the song, straddling both the joy and the melancholy of imperfect togetherness, that captivates and comforts. It invites a multitude of interpretations, each as valid and varied as the listener themselves—this is the hallmark of R.E.M.’s songwriting craftsmanship. At its heart, the song grapples with themes of love, the struggle for connection, and the pursuit of an almost attainable bliss.
The Inescapable Ache of Imperfect Intimacy
Whenever we hold each other, there’s a feeling that something is amiss—these opening words do more than just set the stage; they delve into the paradox of human connection. R.E.M. captures the essence of this contradiction through the lens of a relationship that is simultaneously comforting and confounding, perhaps a commentary on the imperfect nature of love itself.
Love, in R.E.M.’s vision, is not just any shelter—it’s a ‘house made of heart,’ vulnerable to the tremors of emotional turmoil. The pleading voices within the lyrics paint the picture of a lover at their tipping point, where the sublime and the unsettled meet. ‘Take my head in your hands and shake it’ is more than a cry for clarity—it’s an admission of the sometimes-disorienting effect love can have on us.
A Lyrical Leap into the ‘Near Wild Heaven’
The phrase ‘near wild heaven’ itself is evocative and enigmatic, conjuring images of a place or state just beyond our grasp. It’s the ‘almost there’ of ecstasy, the tip-toeing around paradise that R.E.M. so poetically encapsulates. This repeated idea becomes a mantra, embedding itself into the listener’s psyche.
But what does it mean to live inside this near wild heaven? The song seems to suggest a commitment to the pursuit, to exist within the threshold of this high and not quite touch it. It’s a testament to the effort one puts into striving for ultimate joy, while acknowledging the perpetual distance from perfection.
The Quest for Intellectual and Emotional Fulfillment
In one poignant turn, the song reflects on the aspiration for wisdom through life experiences: ‘And I always thought that it would make me smarter.’ But is intellectual growth the panacea we hope for in navigating the complexities of relationships? R.E.M. suggests not, indicating that such experiences have simply made the heart more exposed, ‘thrown open wide,’ vulnerable and unguarded in its quest.
This raw exposure is a double-edged sword—it invites both unimaginable warmth and inevitable pain. It speaks to the bravery of those who dare to love deeply, to connect authentically and embrace the open wide of emotional landscapes, regardless of the potential heartbreak that may ensue.
Piecing Together the Fragments of the Self
As the song nears its conclusion, the narrative turns inward with the lyrics, ‘I’m holding my hands together…my feet together…myself together.’ Here, R.E.M. shifts from relational interdependence to a moment of solitary resilience, acknowledging the struggle to maintain composure and coherence amidst emotional upheaval.
It is a universal human experience to seek togetherness and to find oneself striving to preserve individual identity in the face of it. The song captures this tension beautifully, portraying the delicate dance between self-preservation and the deep desire to merge with another.
Memorable Lines that Echo the Soul’s Yearning
Certain lyrics in ‘Near Wild Heaven’ resonate with a profound universality, reflective of the human condition. Verses like ‘not near enough’ reverberate as an expression of our collective yearning for something just beyond reach—the perfect relationship, the unspoiled moment, the divine connection.
This simple yet powerful declaration becomes a kind of anthem for anyone who has ever felt the frustrating nearness of a joy that slips away just as it seems to come into focus. It’s a reminder of the inherent dissatisfaction that drives us forward, always seeking, forever hoping for that one wild heaven that remains tantalizingly near.
