Perspective shift

Many years ago, back when I was young, REM had a pretty big hit with "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"  Since then I've probably heard that song about a million times.  At the peak of its popularity I knew the words by heart, and could keep up with Michael Stipe's rapidfire delivery.  Not that's this is any special accomplishment, anyone listening to "Alternative" radio at the time got this song on a steady stream since it was in such heavy rotation.  At the time it just fit.  We were at the end of the Reagan administration.  The end of the cold war was not too far off, but we didn't know that.  I spent my high school years living in fear of a large scale nuclear war. The Russians were the enemy and they were very well armed, our arms race made sure of that.  Who really knew what the future would hold?  Thinking back now, a lot has changed.  Granted, maybe the players have only shifted a bit and the overwhelming feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop remains the same, but that's not the point here.  That song summed up that feeling for me, for many, perfectly.

Since then this song has become a classic.  It is used in movies, and tv shows.  It was aired by many tv stations when they switched from analog to digital.  It played on Fox when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004.  It is used, used and overused.  Despite this, it's still a great song.

The other morning on the way to work, I heard that song again on the radio.  As I listened to the words, it suddenly dawned on me.  Not only does this song perfectly sum up the great fear of the unknown in the world, it also sounds a lot like every freakin' day at my house.  The clincher was when, at the end of the song, Stipe repeats, "It's time I had some time alone."  I think every mom can identify with that feeling.

Just in case you're a little younger than me, or maybe you were really into late 80s power pop at the time, I've copied the lyrics below.  Read it and you'll agree.  This is a lot like being the mother of two small boys.  And really, for the most part, I do feel fine.

It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes,
an aeroplane - Lenny Bruce is not afraid.
Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn,
world serves its own needs, regardless of your own needs.
Feed it off a knock speed, grunt no, strength no
The ladder starts to clatter with fear of height down height.
Wire in a fire, representing seven games, a government for hire and a combat site.
Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry with the furies breathing down your neck.
Team by team reporters baffled, trumped, tethered cropped.
Look at that low plane!
Fine, then.
Uh oh, overflow, population, common group, but it'll do.
Save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed. Tell me with the rapture and the revered and the right - right.
You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright light, feeling pretty psyched.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Six o'clock - TV hour. Don't get caught in foreign towers.
Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn.
Lock him in uniform, book burning, blood letting.
Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate.
Light a candle, light a motive. Step down, step down.
Watch your heel crush, crush. Uh-oh, this means no fear cavalier.
Renegade and steer clear! A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies.
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) and I feel fine.
(I feel fine)

It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) and I feel fine.

The other night I tripped a nice continental drift divide. Mount St. Edelite
Leonard Bernstein. Leonid Brezhnev. Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs.
Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom!
You symbiotic, patriotic, slam but neck, right? Right.

It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) and I feel fine.

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) and I feel fine.

It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) and I feel fine.

It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it. (It's time I had some time alone)
It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) and I feel fine...