LOSING MY RELIGION LYRICS - R.E.M. | OUT OF TIME

"Losing My Religion" by R.E.M., the 1991 mandolin-driven classic from Out of Time — the band's biggest hit, a Grammy and MTV VMA winner.

Losing My Religion Song Credits

Song: Losing My Religion
Band: R.E.M.
Album: Out of Time (1991)
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Released: February 19, 1991
Writers: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe
Producers: Scott Litt + R.E.M.
Length: 4:28
Recorded: September–October 1990 (Bearsville, Woodstock NY; John Keane, Athens GA; Soundscape, Atlanta) — all per Wikipedia (Losing My Religion).

The Story Behind the Song

"Losing My Religion" grew out of a mandolin riff improvised by guitarist Peter Buck, with lyrics by singer Michael Stipe — a song about disillusionment and unrequited love. It became R.E.M.'s biggest commercial hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 21 weeks on the chart after entering at No. 73 on April 6, 1991 (per elpee.jp / hive.blog). The video was directed by Indian filmmaker Tarsem Singh and is steeped in religious imagery — Saint Sebastian, Hindu deities, and the visual influence of Caravaggio and Tarkovsky. It won six MTV Video Music Awards in 1991 — Video of the Year, Best Group Video, Breakthrough Video, Best Art Direction, Best Direction and Best Editing — plus two Grammys: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Short Form Music Video. In September 2020 it became the first R.E.M. video to pass one billion YouTube views, and the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017 (per Wikipedia / elpee.jp). R.E.M. were an American alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia — Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe — who disbanded in 2011.

Fans of this classic may also enjoy our Zombie lyrics — The Cranberries, Comfortably Numb lyrics — Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall lyrics — Pink Floyd, Eye of the Tiger lyrics — Survivor and Stand By Me lyrics — Ben E. King.

Losing My Religion Lyrics

Note: the full lyrics are not included here for copyright reasons. The official music video below lets you hear the song.

Watch the Official Video

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the song about?
Singer Michael Stipe has described the lyrics as being about disillusionment and unrequited love.

Who directed the music video?
Indian filmmaker Tarsem Singh directed the video, with its celebrated religious imagery drawn from Saint Sebastian, Hindu deities, Caravaggio and Tarkovsky.

How did it chart?
It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 21 weeks on the chart after entering at No. 73 on April 6, 1991.

Which album is it on?
"Losing My Religion" is the lead single from R.E.M.'s 1991 album Out of Time.