On its face, this is a song about summer camp. But the song hints at something deeper – leaving behind your past in the hopes of turning yourself into whatever you aspire to. It’s a grand metaphor for coming of age, for the immigrant experience, and even for coming out of the closet.
[Verse 1]
Everybody here
Comes from somewhere
That they would just soon forget
And disguise
At the summer camp where you volunteered
No one saw your face
No one saw your fear
If that apparition had just appeared
Took you up and away
From this base and sheer
Humiliation
Of your teenage station
Nobody cares
No one remembers
And nobody cares
[Chorus]
How you cried and you cried
He's alive, he's alive
How you cried and you cried
And you cried and you cried
[Verse 2]
If you call out "safe", then I'll stop right away
If the premise buckles and the ropes start to chafe
The details smart but the story's the same
You don't have to explain, you don't have to explain
Humiliation
Of your teenage station
[Chorus]
Yeah, you cried and you cried
He's alive, he's alive
How you cried and you cried
And you cried and you
Realized your fantasies
Are dressed up in travesties
Enjoy yourself with no regrets
Uh, uh
[Verse 3]
Everybody here
Comes from somewhere
That they would just as soon forget
And disguise
[Chorus]
Yeah, you cried and you cried
He's alive, he's alive
Yeah, you cried and you cried
And you cried and you cried
(How you cried and you cried)
(How you cried and you cried)
[Verse 4]
Now there's nothing
Dark and there's nothing weird
Don't be afraid I will hold you near
From the seance where you first betrayed
An open heart on a darkened stage
A celebration
Of your teenage station
[Outro]
It's an experience sweet, delirious
Supernatural, super serious
An experience sweet, delirious
Supernatural, super serious, wow
Supernatural Superserious was written by Peter Buck & Mike Mills & Michael Stipe.
Supernatural Superserious was produced by Jacknife Lee & R.E.M..
R.E.M. released Supernatural Superserious on Mon Feb 11 2008.