Cant Get There From Here
Encyclopedia
"Cant Get There from Here", or "Can't Get There from Here", was the first single
released by R.E.M.
from its third studio album Fables of the Reconstruction
in 1985. The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
, equaling to a position of #110 on the main Billboard Hot 100
chart. It also peaked at #91 on the Canadian Singles Chart
. It was re-released in 2006 on a compilation disc, And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
.
It was the first R.E.M. song to feature a horn section
.
The song mentions the small town of Philomath, Georgia
.
with their albums, many of the words of "Can't Get There from Here" appeared in the video
for the song.
The video features band members frolicking in hay fields, throwing popcorn at each other at a drive-in
movie, and big insects. "We used the new-to-us 'blue screen' process," Buck explained to MTV UK in 2001, during An Hour with R.E.M. "So we have dinosaurs and monsters in the background. It's probably the most humorous video we've ever done. For a band that's kind of noted for not having a sense of humour, I kind of enjoy that aspect of it."
, this song's title does not maintain a consistent punctuation. On the album, it is spelled without an apostrophe on the back cover, but with the apostrophe on the CD.
On the greatest hits compilation Eponymous
, it also is spelled without the apostrophe, except in the liner notes.
One version of the single has an apostrophe and the other does not.
The song's title has an apostrophe on the back cover of And I Feel Fine.
recorded a frenetic cover for the 1992 R.E.M. tribute album Surprise Your Pig. It was subsequently included as a bonus track on the 1997 reissue of their earlier EP Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood
.
, Peter Buck
, Mike Mills
and Michael Stipe
, "Bandwagon" is co-written by Michael's sister, Lynda Stipe.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
released by R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
from its third studio album Fables of the Reconstruction
Fables of the Reconstruction
Fables of the Reconstruction, also known as Reconstruction of the Fables, is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on the I.R.S...
in 1985. The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
, equaling to a position of #110 on the main Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. It also peaked at #91 on the Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
. It was re-released in 2006 on a compilation disc, And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987 is a compilation album by R.E.M. that features songs from the band's years at I.R.S. Records. All tracks have been remastered, and the set was released 12 September 2006...
.
It was the first R.E.M. song to feature a horn section
Horn section
In music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
.
The song mentions the small town of Philomath, Georgia
Philomath, Georgia
Philomath, Georgia is a small community located in the southeastern corner of Oglethorpe County, Georgia, USA at an elevation of 646 feet .- History :...
.
Music video
In another first for R.E.M., who had opposed including the lyricsLyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
with their albums, many of the words of "Can't Get There from Here" appeared in the video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
for the song.
The video features band members frolicking in hay fields, throwing popcorn at each other at a drive-in
Drive-in
A drive-in is a facility such as a bank, restaurant, or movie theater where one can literally drive in with an automobile for service. It is usually distinguished from a drive-through. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by staff who walk out...
movie, and big insects. "We used the new-to-us 'blue screen' process," Buck explained to MTV UK in 2001, during An Hour with R.E.M. "So we have dinosaurs and monsters in the background. It's probably the most humorous video we've ever done. For a band that's kind of noted for not having a sense of humour, I kind of enjoy that aspect of it."
Punctuation
The proper title of the song is unclear: unlike "Feeling Gravitys Pull" or Lifes Rich PageantLifes Rich Pageant
Lifes Rich Pageant is the fourth album by the American band R.E.M., released in 1986. Intended as an upbeat reaction to the sobering and historical Fables of the Reconstruction, R.E.M...
, this song's title does not maintain a consistent punctuation. On the album, it is spelled without an apostrophe on the back cover, but with the apostrophe on the CD.
On the greatest hits compilation Eponymous
Eponymous (album)
Eponymous is the first greatest hits and the second compilation album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1988. It was their last authorized release on I.R.S. Records, to whom they had been contracted since 1982, having just signed with Warner Bros. Records...
, it also is spelled without the apostrophe, except in the liner notes.
One version of the single has an apostrophe and the other does not.
The song's title has an apostrophe on the back cover of And I Feel Fine.
Cover versions
The punk band The Mr. T ExperienceThe Mr. T Experience
The Mr. T Experience is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California and currently recording for Lookout! Records. They have released ten full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationally...
recorded a frenetic cover for the 1992 R.E.M. tribute album Surprise Your Pig. It was subsequently included as a bonus track on the 1997 reissue of their earlier EP Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood
Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood
-Performers:*Dr. Frank - vocals, guitar*Jon Von Zelowitz - vocals, guitar*Byron Stomatos - bass*Alex Laipeneiks - drums*Eric Mead - guitar on "T-Shirt Commercial"*Janis Tanaka - bass on "T-Shirt Commercial"*Eban Ostby - drums on "T-Shirt Commercial"...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Bill BerryBill Berry
William "Bill" Thomas Berry is a retired American musician, multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. In addition to his drumming duties, Berry played many other instruments including guitar, bass guitar, and piano, both for songwriting and on R.E.M....
, Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
, Mike Mills
Mike Mills
Michael Edward "Mike" Mills is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock group R.E.M.. Though known primarily as a bass guitarist, backing vocalist, and pianist, his musical repertoire includes also keyboards, guitar, and percussion instruments...
and Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
, "Bandwagon" is co-written by Michael's sister, Lynda Stipe.
12": IRS / IRT 102 (US)
- "Can't Get There from Here" (Extended Mix)
* - 3:39 - "Bandwagon" - 2:15
- "Burning Hell" - 3:49
- "Extended Mix" identical to album version
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
91 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks | 14 |