Nightswimming - You Are the Everything - Talk About the Passion

Novelist Megan Abbott often finds solace in darkness in her books, so it's no surprise that she would be inspired by the beautiful, murky waters of R.E.M.'s "Nightswimming." She reveals how the song was a working title for one of her earliest coming-of-age thrillers. We discuss the newfound vulnerability and earnestness that Michael Stipe was exploring in the Automatic For the People era. Chris finds a strong connection to Nightswimming with the thematically similar "You Are the Everything," while Will brings one of the band's earliest songs, "Talk About the Passion," which suggests R.E.M.'s political leanings were obvious from the start.

Late summer is the perfect time for a night swim...

Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson