Apparently, this is a political song (and if so, it's one the REM's first), but one would hardly be worked up into a frenzy and storm the Capitol after listening to it. Lyrically, the tune is a mild statement about the plight of Mexican immigrants:
The compass points the worker's home
Pay for your freedom, find another gate
But the real gem inside this song is the melodic trail, led mostly by Pete's guitar work, that tumbles evenly down from a high point to ground level between the verses. The otherwise standard jangly arpeggios are served by the connective tissue of those interludes. Stipe's vocals are earnest without being urgent, but breezy without being poppy. All together, a simple tune with grace.
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