Life and How to Live It

Song infobox
Name = Life and How to Live It


Type = Song
Artist = R.E.M.
alt Artist =
Album = Fables of the Reconstruction
Published =
Released = 10 June 1985
track_no = 4
Recorded =
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:06
Writer =
Composer =
Label = I.R.S. Records
Producer = Joe Boyd
Background =
Chart position =
Tracks =
prev = "Driver 8"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "Life and How to Live It"
track_no = 4
next = "Old Man Kensey"
next_no = 5

"Life and How to Live It" is the fourth song on R.E.M.'s third album, "Fables of the Reconstruction", released in 1985. Both the studio recording and a live version are featured on the retrospective collection "And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987".

Songwriter and lead vocalist Michael Stipe has explained that the song's narrative represented a departure from the stream-of-consciousness writing of previous albums. [Interview for liner notes, "And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987", Capitol Records, 2006.] The story is based on an unknown author by the name of Brivs Mekis who resided in Athens, Georgia. Mekis lived in an apartment, but grew so tired of the same thing day after day he built a wall down the middle. Mekis lived back and forth on either side until his death. Upon his death, unsold copies of the man's self-published book were found stacked in a closet, bearing the title from which the song takes its name. [ [http://www.flim.com/remlafaq/fables/lifeandhowtoliveit.html Transcript of Stipe's explanation, with lyrics.] ] Bassist Mike Mills recalled the song as a personal favorite, describing the bassline as "McCartney-esque." [Interview for liner notes, 2006.]

References