Driver 8
R.E.M. · Eponymous
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
Released on R.E.M.'s 1988 debut album, 'Driver 8' stands as a defining track of the alternative rock era, blending atmospheric textures with the band's signature melodic sensibility. The song exemplifies the group's ability to create lush, layered soundscapes that balanced introspective lyricism with driving rhythms. As a cornerstone of their early discography, it helped establish R.E.M. as a major force in American indie music, influencing countless subsequent artists through its innovative use of synthesizers and organic instrumentation. The recording captures the band's transition from college rock to a more polished, radio-ready sound while retaining their unique identity. Its enduring popularity reflects its status as a quintessential representation of late 80s alternative rock, cementing its place in the band's catalog and the broader musical landscape.