Rivers of Suggestion: R.E.M.'s "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)"

The day of reckoning is here. #1 in the Rock Turtleneck/R.E.M. countdown: “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)”

For all the debate, conjecture, filibustering, vitriol and brouhaha that went into the selection of the R.E.M. top five, all were in complete agreement over the #1 R.E.M. song: “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry), the second track in the top five from their 1984 LP Reckoning.

“So. Central Rain” has everything that makes R.E.M. special. ‘Tis both slow and mournful, fast and upbeat, easy to understand and completely incomprehensible. It also has an eccentric, inconsistent abbreviation of the word “south,” no doubt courtesy of RT honoree J.M. Stipe.

The spine of Reckoning says “File Under Water” which was an in-joke to record retailers (remember them?) looking to stock the album. Reckoning is full of water-related imagery. This is especially true of “So. Central Rain,” which draws parallels between the protagonist’s dysfunctional relationship and a Texarkanian deluge, with “rivers of suggestion driving me away.”

But as with many of R.E.M.’s best numbers, the music is what really does the talking. With Peter Buck's chiming, Roger McGuinnish opening lick, Macca-esque melodic bass courtesy of Mike Mills and Bill Berry’s urgently off-kilter drumming, the song has a drive and yearning that grab you from the first note, and haunt you long after the howling coda. I have heard “So. Central Rain” hundreds of times, and I get chills every single time Mills (I assume) starts pounding the piano.

The 45 of "So. Central Rain" (here written as "S. Central Rain") nicely takes the edge off with a drunken jam session. "Walter’s Theme," their uncommisioned jingle for their favorite Athens BBQ joint, is followed by a barely coherent, but super-charming take on Roger Miller's country classic “King of the Road.” These can now be found on the must-own comp Dead Letter Office.

Below, the first televised performance of “So.Central Rain” on Late Night with David Letterman. The band was still touring behind Murmur, and after doing "Radio Free Europe," decided to play a song that was “too new to be named.” Following that is the official video wherein Mr. Stipe sang live so as not to lip-synch.

I'm sorry, but there's more: A stunning aqua-medley of "Time After Time," Peter Gabriel's "Red Rain" and "So. Central Rain" from the Document tour, and available on their other, out of print rarities comp In the Attic. Plus a side order of "Walter's Theme" and "King of the Road." Dig in.

YouTube: R.E.M., "Too New to be Named" (aka "So. Central Rain," Late Night with David Letterman, fall 1983)


YouTube: R.E.M., "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry), official video w/live vocals by J.M. Stipe


mp3: R.E.M., "So. Central Rain," Reckoning
mp3: R.E.M., "Time After Time, etc.," (Live in Holland, 1987), In the Attic
mp3: R.E.M., "Walter's Theme," Dead Letter Office
mp3: R.E.M., "King of the Road," Dead Letter Office