Derek Powazek remembers, and offers a strange, beautiful explanation for, one of my favorite R.E.M. songs, Swan Swan H. (It’s listed as ‘Swan Swan H’ on the album tracklist, but everyone calls it ‘Swan Swan Hummingbird’ after the first three lyrics.) I too learned to play the song, and while I don’t have the same associations Derek does with the tune (it can only be described as haunting), it is one that has always touched me deeply.

And damn, Derek:

I jumped out of bed and drew this on the whiteboard in the hallway,

Whiteboard in the hallway: what a nerd. *jealous*

I’ll leave you with a teaser for Derek’s theory on the meaning of the song title: