Driver 8
R.E.M. · Fables Of The Reconstruction
And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8,
Driver 8 take a break We've been on this shift too long"
And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8,
Driver 8 take a break We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"
I saw a treehouse on the outskirts of the farm.
The power lines have floaters so the airplanes won't get snagged.
Bells are ringing through the town again,
Children look up, all they hear is sky-blue, bells ringing
And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"
Way to shield the hated heat. Way to put myself to sleep.
Way to shield the hated heat. Way to put myself, my children to sleep.
He piloted this song in a plane like that one.
She is selling faith on the Go Tell crusade.
Locomotive 8, Southern Crescent, hear the bells ring again.
Field to weed is stricken thin
And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We've been on this shift too long."
And the train conductor says "Take a break Driver 8, Driver 8 take a break
We can reach our destination, but we're still a ways away"
But we're still a ways away.
Driver 8
Driver 8 stands as a pivotal track from R.E.M.'s 1985 album, Fables of the Reconstruction. The recording captures the band's transition from their earlier college rock sound toward a more polished, atmospheric style that would define their mid-eighties output. Featuring a driving rhythm section and layered guitars, the song showcases the group's ability to blend melodic accessibility with subtle sonic textures. As part of an album that explored themes of Southern Gothic storytelling and personal introspection, the track highlights the band's evolving songwriting maturity. It remains a significant song in their extensive discography, reflecting the creative energy that preceded their subsequent commercial breakthroughs. The song endures as a testament to the band's capacity to craft enduring rock anthems that resonate across generations.