Epiphany / part 1

In fact, this was not the case. "Losing my religion" is actually an old southern expression for being at the end of one's rope, and the moment when politeness gives way to anger. But if you were missing that key detail, you'd think that Stipe's vague vocalist imagery was clearly a comment on the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Stipe, who comes from a long line of Methodist ministers and is an admirer of Buddhism, was merely giving a little known southern saying a poetic facelift, by building a wall of evocative words around it. The gravity he conjures with his hurt, reedy keenness is immense.