In
April 2001, the
Nevada state legislature passed a bill commending
REM for this track on their
classic 1992
album Automatic for the People. They (the
legislature) said that it sent a
positive and
hopeful message to teenagers who might be contemplating
suicide.
You are not alone. Indeed.
I wonder what they would have thought if they'd skipped back three
tracks and listened to
Try Not to Breathe? I mean, it's possible that they did hear the song, and they understand the difference between
despair and
integrity. But it's also possible they're just
clueless. I would love to know.