Meaning of "Feeling Gravitys Pull" by R.E.M.

"Feeling Gravitys Pull" explores themes of control, defiance, and liberation. The lyrics depict the speaker's fascination with gravity and its influence on their existence. Falling asleep and reading about gravity suggest a deep reflection on the forces that shape one's life. The line "Read the scene where gravity is pulling me around" implies that gravity, in both a physical and metaphorical sense, has a profound impact on the speaker's experiences and choices.

The verses that follow convey a sense of power and control. The speaker peels back the mountains and sky, stomping gravity into the floor. This imagery suggests a desire to exert dominance over natural forces. The comparison to Man Ray, an avant-garde artist known for his exploration of reality and surrealism, adds another layer to the meaning. It implies that the speaker wants to reshape their perception of reality, to make it malleable and adaptable.

The repeated refrain of "step up, step up, step up, the sky is open-armed" encourages the listener to embrace possibilities and push beyond their limitations. It's a call to seize opportunities and explore uncharted territories. The speaker asserts their ability to manipulate the sky, metaphorically representing the vast expanse of possibilities available to them. They challenge the restrictive views imposed by someone in the line "Somewhere near the end it said, 'You can't do this.' I said, 'I can too.'"

The line "Time and distance are out of place here" further emphasizes the speaker's desire to break free from constraints. In this realm with open-armed skies, the normal rules of time and space do not apply. This suggests that the speaker longs for a sense of liberation from the limitations that society and conventional thinking place upon them.

The closing lines of the song, "Reason had harnessed the tame, holding the sky in your arms, gravity pulls me down," present a contrasting perspective. While the speaker has expressed a desire to control and manipulate gravity, these lines suggest a recognition of the power and inevitability of gravity's influence. Reason, often associated with rationality and control, is portrayed as a force that tames the wildness of gravity. Yet, despite reason's attempt to harness gravity, it ultimately prevails, pulling the speaker back down.

Overall, "Feeling Gravitys Pull" conveys a yearning for freedom, exploration, and the ability to defy limitations. It explores the tension between the desire for control and the acknowledgement of the power of external forces. The imagery of the sky and gravity symbolize a vast realm of possibilities and the inescapable pull of the natural world.