10 Hidden Details In Legendary Rock Songs
6. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite - R.E.M.
Before grunge had really hit, R.E.M. had already started putting alternative music on the map. Even though there was no way to really categorize songs like Radio Free Europe or So Central Rain in the early days of MTV, the sense of melody that Michael Stipe had made people want to tune in again and again, if only just to find out what the hell he was actually saying. Although he became a lot more articulate in the '90s, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite might be one of the best tongue in cheek songs that the band ever wrote.
For as esoteric as Michael can be with his lyrics, there are a lot of references in this song that seem to be pulled out at random, almost taking a page out of Kurt Cobain's playbook by making strange images work well together. While the rapid fire 'call me when you try to wake her' is already a mouthful to get out for the chorus, Michael seemed to have trouble stomaching some of his mainline lyrics, tripping over himself when he makes reference to Dr. Seuss at the end of one of the verses.
Right as he finishes up the line, you can hear him subtly laughing during the take, fumbling over his words in the chorus before getting himself back on track in the next go around. Automatic for the People may have been focused on the darker side of life and what happens when you eventually grow up, but the life of an older rocker didn't necessarily have to be serious all the time either.