Try Not to Breathe by R.E.M. Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Layers of Life and Legacy
Lyrics
I can hold my head still with my hands at my knees
These eyes are the eyes of the old, shiver and fold
I will try not to breathe
This decision is mine
I have lived a full life
And these are the eyes that I want you to remember, oh
I need something to fly over my grave again
I need something to breathe
I will try not to burden you
I can hold these inside
I will hold my breath
Until all these shivers subside
Just look in my eyes
I will try not to worry you
I have seen things that you will never see
Leave it to memory me
I shudder to breathe
I want you to remember, oh (you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
Over my grave again (you will never see)
I need something to breathe (something to breathe)
Baby, don’t shiver now
Why do you shiver? (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
Over my grave again (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to breathe, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
I will try not to worry you
I have seen things that you will never see
Leave it to memory me
Don’t dare me to breathe
I want you to remember oh (you will never see)
I need something to fly (something to fly)
Over my grave again (you will never see)
I need something to breathe (something to breathe)
Baby, don’t shiver now
Why do you shiver now? (I will see things you will never see)
I need something to breathe (something to breathe)
(I have seen things you will never see)
I want you to remember
Amidst the pantheon of R.E.M.’s celebrated tracks lies ‘Try Not to Breathe’, a poignant piece with a theme as universal as it is intimate— the contemplation of one’s mortality and the legacy left behind. As we dissect the essence of this song, we might find ourselves facing the reflections of our existential musings, mirrored in the lyrics penned by frontman Michael Stipe.
Although R.E.M. has a reputation for obscure lyrics, ‘Try Not to Breathe’ strikes a chord with its relatively direct approach to discussing the end-of-life decisions and the desire to live on in memories after parting from this world. Let’s dive into the labyrinthine heart of this track and explore what makes ‘Try Not to Breathe’ a hauntingly beautiful ode to the human experience.
Breathing Life into Mortality: The Struggle for Control
The song’s title, ‘Try Not to Breathe,’ can be seen as a metaphor for the struggle to hold on to life while simultaneously accepting the inevitability of death. By focusing on the act of breathing, a function that is both involuntary and essential to life, Stipe symbolically grapples with the desire for agency in the face of mortality. The repeated resolve ‘I will try not to breathe’ echoes the dichotomy between wanting to maintain control over one’s existence and the recognition that life’s cessation is beyond one’s control.
Moreover, the depiction of ‘these eyes’ as the windows to a weathered soul, experienced and resigned, introduces us to a narrator who has come to terms with their life’s journey. ‘These are the eyes that I want you to remember,’ Stipe sings, emphasizing a desire to be recalled not as a fading presence but as one with a resonant gaze teeming with stories and wisdom.
Last Flight Over a Memory Graveyard: A Quest for Immortality
There is a powerful motif woven into the fabric of ‘Try Not to Breathe’— the yearning for something to ‘[fly] over my grave again.’ This imagery evokes a spirit or essence that transcends physical boundaries, emphasizing the narrator’s wish for continuity beyond death. Here, R.E.M. turns the macabre reminder of a grave into a launchpad for a lasting legacy.
In finding ‘something to breathe,’ the song’s protagonist seeks to instill life where there is stillness. It’s an exploration of the human desire for relevance, for one’s essence to linger like the afterglow of sunset skies, long after the sun has dipped below the horizon. The song becomes a meditation on the nature of what we leave behind—will it breathe life into memory, or will it be as silent and inert as a grave?
In the Eyes of the Beholder: The Tangible Impact of Memories
One of the most arresting aspects of ‘Try Not to Breathe’ is the yearning for remembrance through the specificity of sight. ‘Just look in my eyes,’ Stipe sings, alluding to direct, personal encounters that hold the power to become indelible. In these lines, we capture the essence of human connection. Memories become the currency of legacy, given value and shape by those who recollect.
It’s this tangible impact—the emotive resonance and individual specificity of recollection—that Stipe asks us to hone in on. He isn’t content with mere acknowledgment but wants the full weight of his presence to be felt, to become part of the living tapestry he leaves in his wake. It’s a heartfelt plea for the personal to be forever etched into collective memory.
The Cryptic Dance of Shivers: The Hidden Emotional Undertow
There lies a recurring line that sweeps through the song with a trembling hand—’Don’t shiver,’ which can be interpreted as a call for composure in response to the chills that signify fear or sorrow. This hidden meaning transcends the literal cold, diving into the subconscious response to life’s end. It is as if the narrator is comforting those left behind, encouraging resilience in the face of loss and the unknown.
The duality of ‘shivers’ also casts a light on the narrator’s own experiences—’I have seen things that you will never see.’ These shivers may stand for the awe-inspiring and the harrowing alike, but they are his to bear. Through the act of sharing this, there’s a gift of relief handed to the listener—an unspoken promise that some things are ours alone, not burdens to be handed down.
The Unforgettable Echo: Parsing the Song’s Memorable Lines
Amidst the rich tapestry of ‘Try Not to Breathe’ are lines that linger on the subconscious like ghosts of melodies past. The juxtaposition of ‘I need something to fly over my grave again’ and ‘I need something to breathe’ creates a cyclical sense of longing, the wish to rise and to be filled with life is profound. These words encapsulate the central tenet of the song, blurring the lines between existence and the afterlife, suggesting an interconnectedness that defies simple interpretation.
The command ‘Leave it to memory me’ seals the narrator’s intentions. It is an epitaph of sorts, a final request to be seen as more than a corporeal being—to be remembered for the essence of who he was, eternally preserved in memory. The haunting repetition of ‘oh’ that trails each verse serves to underline the emotional weight of his words, conveying an unspoken depth that words alone cannot capture.
