Released on R.E.M.'s 1991 album Out Of Time, "Dragging The Line" stands as a defining track of the band's late-period sound. The song features a distinctive, repetitive guitar riff that anchors a driving, rhythmic structure, characteristic of the group's shift toward a more polished and accessible rock style. Lyrically, the track explores themes of emotional detachment and the struggle to maintain boundaries in personal relationships, delivered with a melancholic yet upbeat energy. As a staple of the album, it exemplifies the band's ability to blend introspective songwriting with infectious hooks, cementing its place in the canon of alternative rock from the early 1990s.