R.E.M. - Wendell Gee

tremendous tune

Definitely about "otherness". I believe the "tree has lost its middle" means the boy (Stipe) lost his emotional strength..his "core". And decided to make a fake version of himself (to fit in) and covered with lizard skin (a chameleon) and then climbed inside. In doing so, the real boy was lost forever...and there wasnt even time to say goodbye to Wendell Gee...

wendell was a poor boy who walked into a tree and was never seen again

i think it's a metaphor for 'otherness' - wendell gee is a strange old man, somewhat ostracised from the community but with a power of primordial, poetic eccentricity...rather like stipe's very complex relationship with his deeply conservative republican family and upbringing...stipe's hidden sexuality is always a buried but fundamental part of the early songs...but i'm rather glad - because he was 'forced' to use fascinating metaphors to describe his own feelings...important songs, too, imo.

Thanks I know the lyrics are rather fluid.

The backing is Mike Mills singing "gonna miss you boy."