ðɪs sˈɔŋ wʌz ɹˈɪʔn̩, mjˈuːzɪkli ænd lˈɪɹɪkli, baɪ bˈeɪsɪst mˈaɪk mˈɪlz kɹˈɛdɪɾᵻd tə bˈɛɹi slˈæʃ bˈʌk slˈæʃ mˈɪlz slˈæʃ stˈaɪp, æz vˈoʊkəlˌɪst mˈaɪkəl stˈaɪp hɐdbɪn hˌævɪŋ pɹˈɑːbləmz fɔːɹ wˈiːks tɹˈaɪɪŋ tə kˈʌm ˌʌp wɪð lˈɪɹɪks fɔːɹ ɪt.
This song was written, musically and lyrically, by bassist Mike Mills (credited to Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe), as vocalist Michael Stipe had been having problems for weeks trying to come up with lyrics for it.