R.E.M. - The Wrong Child

Artist: R.E.M.

Song: The Wrong Child

Album: Green, 1988

Moving song, in which the bike appears as one of the wonders of each boy. Published in the wonderful album "Green", has a great video that leaves open many interpretations on the wrong child, but among the many, this is what Michael Stipe says ...

“I’m fine with any and all interpretations that aren’t manifested in real life as harmful, hateful or violent. The wrong child was not written about the boy in the bubble or a gay kid, but was instead the influence of HUGO LARGO [who I was working with at the time], particularly Mimi Goese, and her particular and brilliant flair of singing and writing [the double tracked lead vocal was at one point going to be Mimi or Mike]. I just wrote it about a kid who is physically handicapped, and left it purposely undefined.”

Review

I’ve watched the children come and go
A late long march into spring
I sit and watch those children
Jump in the tall grass
Leap the sprinkler
Walk in the ground
Bicycle clothespin spokes
The sound the smell of swingset hands

I will try to sing a happy song
Ill try and make a happy game to play

Come play with me I whispered to my new found friend
Tell me what its like to go outside
Ive never been
Tell me what its like to just go outside
Ive never been
And I never will

Im not supposed to be like this
Im not supposed to be like this
But its okay

Hey those kids are looking at me
I told my friend myself
Those kids are looking at me
Theyre laughing and theyre running over here
Theyre laughing and theyre running over here
What do I do?
What can I do?
What should I do?
What do I say?
What can I say?

I said Im not supposed to be like this
Lets try to find a happy game to play
Lets try to find a happy game to play
Im not supposed to be like this
But its okay...okay