Drive (R.E.M. song)

The title itself is derived from Stipe and R.E.M.'s support for what would eventually become the "Motor Voter Bill" and the lyric "Hey, kids, rock 'n' roll" is an homage to the song "Stop It" by fellow Athens, Georgia, group Pylon; Stipe has also said the song is an "obvious homage to 'Rock On' by David Essex," which features a similar line.{{cite book |title=Reveal: The Story of R.E.M. |last=Black |first=Johnny |year=2004 |publisher=Backbeat Books |location=Milwaukee, WI |isbn=0-87930-776-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/revealstoryofrem00john }}{{cite podcast |url=https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/michael-stipe/ |title=Broken Record Podcast: Michael Stipe |website=Puskin.fm |publisher= |host=Rick Rubin |date=April 26, 2022 |access-date=May 15, 2022}}

"The arrangement of 'Drive' was, in part, inspired by Queen," reported Scott Litt. "Pete and Mike are big Queen fans. Queen records, for all their bombast, sounded like each player had a personality."Mojo #21, August 1995

Mike Mills has said "'Drive' is just telling kids to take charge of their own lives. [Pause.] Among other things."Melody Maker, 1992 To Peter Buck: "It's a subtle, political thing. Michael specifically mentions the term 'bush-whacked'. But if you want to take it like 'Stand', that's cool, too. You like to think that you can appreciate these songs on any level you want to. I have a lot of records I listen to when I'm just doing the dishes. Like Ride records. I really like Ride a lot. And I have no idea what the songs are about. And I really don't care. I don't even worry about it. Lyrics are the last thing I listen to, unless someone is hitting me over the head with it."

David Stubbs from Melody Maker named "Drive" Single of the Week, writing, "'Drive' grows inside you. It's remarkably sombre for an opening salva, the mood captured exactly by Stipe's photo on the cover sleeve — a lonely truck underneath a vast, brooding sky. Stipe's voice is treated here, shadowed by an echo effect which adds to the feeling of being lost on the road to nowhere."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Stubbs|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52705349218/|title=Singles|work=Melody Maker|date=September 26, 1992|page=32|access-date=March 6, 2023|author-link=David Stubbs}} Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel complimented it as the "best cut" on Automatic for the People, adding, "The eerie, sarcastic lyrics ("Maybe you rocked around the clock - tick ... tock ... tick ... tock") and a simple acoustic guitar riff that gradually rises into symphonic accompaniment give the song the intriguing menace of early Pink Floyd."Gettelman, Parry (October 9, 1992). "R.E.M.". Orlando Sentinel.

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Peter Care, was shot over two nights in late August 1992 at Sepulveda Dam in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles. "I remember Oliver Stone came," Michael Stipe said in 2001.An Hour with R.E.M., MTV Europe, April 28, 2001 "I was trying to get a film produced with him at the time. And River Phoenix came – we were friends. And Oliver had been drinking and they got into a fight in my trailer. It was fun to watch. And it kind of fuelled the energy that this video, from beginning to end, kind of carries through it."

Actor Adam Scott appeared as an extra in the video.Automatic For the People, R U Talkin' REM Re: Me?, May 2, 2018

All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe except where noted.

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• US 7-inch, cassette, and CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Drive|others=R.E.M.|year=1992|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=7-18729}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Drive|others=R.E.M.|year=1992|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=4-18729}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Drive|others=R.E.M.|year=1992|type=US CD single disc notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=2-18729}}

1. "Drive" – 4:25
2. "Winged Mammal Theme" – 2:57

• UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Drive|others=R.E.M.|year=1992|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0136CD}}

1. "Drive" – 4:25
2. "World Leader Pretend" – 4:15
3. "First We Take Manhattan" {{small|(Leonard Cohen)}} – 6:06

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• UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Drive|others=R.E.M.|year=1992|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0136CDX}}

1. "Drive" – 4:25
2. "It's a Free World, Baby" – 5:11
3. "Winged Mammal Theme" – 2:55
4. "First We Take Manhattan" {{small|(Cohen)}} – 6:06

• UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Drive|others=R.E.M.|year=1992|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W 0136}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Drive|others=R.E.M.|year=1992|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Warner Bros. Records|id=W0136C}}

1. "Drive" – 4:25
2. "World Leader Pretend" – 4:15

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R.E.M.{{Cite web |url= https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rem-drive/ |title= How ‘Drive’ Set the Tone for R.E.M.’s Stark Opus |date=2022}}

• Bill Berry – drums, percussion
• Peter Buck – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Mike Mills – bass guitar, accordion{{Cite AV media |last1=Mills |first1=Mike |author-link1=Mike Mills |last2=Kennedy |first2=John |author-link2=John Kennedy (radio broadcaster) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnGwA5gK29g |title=R.E.M - Automatic For The People {{!}} Track By Track {{!}} X-Posure |publisher=Radio X |via=YouTube |date=15 November 2017 |access-date=30 October 2024 |minutes=37:26}}
• Michael Stipe – vocals

Additional musicians{{Cite AV media notes |title=Automatic For The People |others=R.E.M. |date=1992 |type=CD Liner notes}}

• John Paul Jones – orchestral arrangements
• George Hanson – conductor
• Denise Berginson-Smith, Lonnie Ottzen, Patti Gouvas, Sandy Salzinger, Sou-Chun Su, Jody Taylor – violin
• Kathleen Kee, Daniel Laufer, Elizabeth Proctor Murphy – cello
• Reid Harris, Paul Murphy, Heidi Nitchie – viola

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Production

• Scott Litt – producer, mixing engineer
• Clif Norrell – recording engineer, mixing engineer
• Mark Howard – second engineer
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering engineer (Precision Mastering)

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Category:1992 singles

Category:1992 songs

Category:Black-and-white music videos

Category:Music videos directed by Peter Care

Category:R.E.M. songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Bill Berry

Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe

Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Mills

Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Buck

Category:Song recordings produced by Scott Litt

Category:Songs written by Bill Berry

Category:Songs written by Michael Stipe

Category:Songs written by Mike Mills

Category:Songs written by Peter Buck

Category:Warner Records singles