"Sitting Still" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. that was issued on their first single in 1981 and on their 1983 debut album Murmur.
| "Sitting Still" | |
|---|---|
| Single by R.E.M. | |
| A-side | "Radio Free Europe" |
| Released | July 8, 1981 |
| Recorded | April–May 1981 |
| Studio | Drive-In Studios in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:07 |
| Label | Hib-Tone |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Mitch Easter |
| "Sitting Still" | |
|---|---|
| Song by R.E.M. | |
| from the album Murmur | |
| Released | April 12, 1983 |
| Recorded | 1983 |
| Genre | Alternative rock, folk rock, punk rock |
| Length | 3:17 |
| Label | I.R.S. |
| Songwriter(s) | Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe |
| Producer(s) | Don Dixon and Mitch Easter |
Writing and recording
edit"Sitting Still" was one of the first songs written by R.E.M., in late 1980, along with "Radio Free Europe" and "Shaking Through."[1][3] Hib-Tone founder Jonny Hibbert agreed to release "Radio Free Europe" and "Sitting Still" as a single on his label in exchange for the publishing rights.[4][5] The song was initially recorded on April 15, 1981, and some of Michael Stipe's vocals were re-recorded in May.[4] The single was released on July 8, 1981. The band was able to reacquire the publishing rights in order to issue the two songs on Murmur in 1983.[4][5] Unlike "Radio Free Europe," which was re-recorded, the version of "Sitting Still" on Murmur is from the same recording made at producer Mitch Easter's Drive-In Studio as the Hib-Tone single.[4][6] However, some changes were made to the Murmur version, such as slowing down the tape.[4][6] Also, some out of tune backing vocals were fixed and Mike Mills re-recorded his bass part.[4]
Music and lyrics
edit"Sitting Still" reflects R.E.M.'s folk rock influences.[1][4] Peter Buck's guitar riffs have been compared to those of The Byrds.[4] The song's verses have a call and response structure, with Buck's guitar arpeggios responding to Stipe's vocal line.[1][2] Allmusic critic Stewart Mason states that this is one of the few R.E.M. songs in which Mills and drummer Bill Berry act as a traditional rhythm section, propelling the song forward together.[1] Mills plays straightforward punk rock-influenced eighth notes, and does not incorporate his typical walking bass lines or "harmonic accents."[2] It is one of the band's most straightforward rock songs.[2] Mason calls it "part of the band's statement of purpose" as it gives the message "See, we can play regular pop songs, we just choose not to."[1]
As with "Radio Free Europe," the lyrics to "Sitting Still" are notoriously murky.[1][3] Stipe has acknowledged that the first line of the refrain, "Up to par and Katie bar the kitchen door but not me in," does not mean anything.[1][4] In a 1991 interview he did provide some insight into a potential meaning, stating that "Katie bar the door" is a Southern expression for barring the door to prevent a child from escaping punishment and is used as a warning that the child better watch out.[3] Another line, "We can gather, throw a fit" has often been misinterpreted as "We can gather, throw up beer."[3] He has also acknowledged that much of the song is made of nonsensical vowels strung together and that he merely approximates the words when he sings the song in concert.[4][6] To the extent the song contains decipherable lyrics, they seem to be inspired at least in part by Stipe's sister, who is deaf and teaches deaf children.[2][3][4] Marcus Gray interprets the song as being directed at a child, possibly a deaf child, based on its title referencing a common exhortation restricting children and other hints in the lyrics.[3]
A line in the refrain announces that "I can hear you."[2][4] Music writer J. Niimi states that this line "binds the obtuseness of the lyrics" and performs a similar "cathartic" function as the audible line "Call out in transit" performs for the murky lyrics of "Radio Free Europe."[2] However, the last line of the song "Can you hear me?" turns this phrase around.[2][4] This brings the song back to the theme of deafness.[2][4] Music writer Craig Rosen also interprets this line as a challenge from Stipe to listeners to try to understand his vocals.[4] Niimi interprets it as an expression of the band's fear that, despite their own confidence in their murky style, listeners won't be able to accept them.[2]
Other appearances
editThe re-recorded version of "Sitting Still" was included on the 2006 compilation album And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987, with the original being on the album's bonus disc.[1] A live version was included on the 2009 live album Live at the Olympia.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mason, S. "Sitting Still". Allmusic. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Niimi, J. (2005). Murmur. Continuum. pp. 42–44. ISBN 9780826416728.
- ^ a b c d e f Gray, M. (1997). It Crawled in from the South. Da Capo Press. pp. 63, 109, 111, 116, 266. ISBN 9780306807510.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rosen, C. (1997). R.E.M Inside Out: The Story Behind Every Song. Thunder's Mouth Press. pp. 10–11, 14, 29. ISBN 9781560251774.
- ^ a b Fletchger, T. (2013). Perfect Circle: The Story of REM. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9781780386980.
- ^ a b c Black, J. (2004). Reveal: The Story of R.E.M.. Backbeat Books. pp. 75–76. ISBN 0879307765.