Fireplace

Steve Berlin of Los Lobos plays the saxophone on this track. Berlin was a friend of the band since their early days: in 1982, R.E.M. was a supporting act for the Chicano-Punk band "The Plugz," which Berlin was a member of at that time.

The lyrics come from an excerpt of a speech of Mother Ann Lee, leader of the American Shaker sect in the 18th century. (source: Inside Out by Craig Rosen, thanks, Martin - Rostock, Germany)