It's the end of the world as UVa knows it?
OK, this has been bugging me since last night, when the folks at the Dean Dome treated us to R.E.M.'s frenetic classic "It's the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)" on '80s Retro Night.
There's one lyric in the song that has always stood out to UVa grads because it seems to be an obvious reference to their alma mater:
"Watch O'Neill crush rush, uh-oh, this means no beer Cavalier. Renegade steer clear!"
Colleague Rob Daniels tells me R.E.M. passed through Charlottesville some time in 1984-85 and threw in the lyric as a reference to then-president Robert O'Neill's ban on alcohol on campus, er, Grounds. That included fraternity houses.
That's consistent with what I'd been told years ago. But when I check lyrics Web sites, only one that I can find has that version. Nearly all others have this as the line:
"Watch your heel crush, crushed, uh-oh, this means no fear cavalier.
Renegade steer clear!"
What that's supposed to mean, I have no idea. It's not what I hear when the song, off the "Document" album, is played, so I'd never given it any thought.
Does anyone out there know the real deal on R.E.M.'s lyrics? Perhaps they did alternate versions. Perhaps UVa people twisted it to their own advantage. Or maybe it's like Jimi Hendrix's line, "Excuse me while I kiss the sky," which many hear as "kiss this guy."
Anyway, seemed appropriate to me they'd play this while the Cavaliers were in town. I suspect Norwood Teague, UNC's associate AD for marketing & promotions, had something to do with the song choice. He used to have the same job at Virginia.
Not all Retro Night tunes were so solid. The copy desk cut this from my "Sights and Sounds" note: The musical selections from the '80s ranged from the quirky to the catchy to the outstanding (see above) to the ridiculously bad ("Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club).
And who picked out the outfits for ESPN's Len Elmore and Mike Patrick? Don't remember any afros that big in the 80's or jackets that plaid (except maybe on Wimp Sanderson or Norm Sloan).
Comments (2)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Michael Stipe has to since the most unintelligible songs ever. For all I know, he may have no lyrical talent. But how could I tell? Trying to figure out the lyrics from Murmur or Reckoning will only give you a splitting headache. What's up with Harbor Coat and the guys gathered in the corner with their noses worn off? Or something like that.
Posted on February 17, 2005 6:48 PM
good point. trying to figure out Stipe's lyrics is usually hopeless. my guess is the real meaning is found when you play the songs backwards.
I tried that once with "Orange Crush," in which to my amazement Stipe revealed that he in fact is the Walrus, coo-coo-ca-choo.
Posted on February 17, 2005 7:04 PM