If there’s one album in my music collection of which I could never tire, its R.E.M.’s 1985 classic Fables of the Reconstruction. I think that’s in part because I have no idea what most of its songs are about — or even what Michael Stipe is singing in half of them.
Reading over the lyrics of ‘Kohoutek,’ I realized that despite hearing and loving it hundreds of times I had never really paid any attention to its words. Because they don’t matter… not really. What matters is the sound and the feel.
I don’t mean to sell Michael Stipe short as a lyricist. On later albums he spun some intelligible poetry. And on the early records he was always good for a stolen phrase here and there that emerged from the murk and brought the whole thing together.
Here it’s “like Kohoutek, you were gone…”
She carried ribbons, she wore them out
Courage built a bridge, jealous tore it down
At least it’s something you’ve left behind
Like Kohoutek, you were gone
We sat in the garden, we stood on the porch
I won’t deny myself, we never talked
She wore bangles, she wore bells
On her toes and she jumped like a fish
Like a flyin’ fish, you were gone
Like Kohoutek, can’t forget that
Fever built a bridge, reason tore it down
If I am one to follow.. who will stand alone?
Maybe you’re not the problem
scissors, paper, stone
If you stand and holler, these prayers will talk
She carried ribbons, she wore them out
Michael built a bridge…Michael tore it down
At least it’s something you’ve left behind
Like Kohoutek, you were gone
Michael built a bridge… Michael tore it down
If I stand and holler… will I stand alone?
Meet Me In Montauk 
I too have heard this song dozens of times, but never understood a single word he was singing. Not one. And I agree that it really didn’t matter, though it’s nice to see the lyrics. Maybe next time I hear it, I will recognize a word or two.
Doesn’t matter if I understand the lyrics, I just love their sound
Ditto. I have little idea what words Stipe sings on this album, and I’ve never been bothered in the slightest by that fact. I think you’re on to something that it may make the album even more captivating. As you well know, this would be one of my top 5 albums to take to the desert island (which, I guess, would give me ample time to finally figure out what sounds Stipe is uttering 🙂
Lots of Stipe’s early lyrics were written mainly for the sound. He was trying to make his voice just another instrument. That’s why it’s mixed down with everything else. I know nearly every word, these days, having listened and played many of their songs for decades, but it totally works even if you don’t understand one word.
Kahoetek is my seventh favorite r.e.m. song/ fables is my second favorite album: because reckoning was the first album of theirs i heard – it was transformative…help me find my harborcoat- the band found me at my most beautiful… shop at buxtry. Robert in Montana