I Believe

Q: What do you do between the horns of the day?
A: Ponder "Q".

In the same way that folk art uses homey familiar themes, Stipe creates a collage of "sayings" that alone would be invisibly trite, but collected and tweaked here speak of a culture of good intentions and subtle superstitions.

In a way I can't help but see this as a religious song. And not just one that pokes the underbelly of a believer, but one that tries to make sense out of what people put their hope in. In a way the lyrics come across as hearing one side of a heated debate. We hear the side of a persecuted hopeful who pushes forward despite his shirt wearing thin (doubt).

The music is driving. The guitar hook fulcrums on a sus4 shimmy. And the banjo opener is a killer. Isolating it like that was a perfect setting for the folky story to come.

There's so much to say on this song, everyone has their favorite line and interpretation and story, so why don't ya write a comment below.......