Near Wild Heaven


"Near Wild Heaven" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released in August 1991 by Warner Bros. as the third single from their seventh studio album, Out of Time. The song was also the first single released by the band to have had its lyrics both co-written and sung by bassist Mike Mills. According to a quote from Peter Buck in R.E.M. Inside Out: The Stories Behind Every Song by Craig Rosen, the lyrics are a collaboration between Mills and lead singer Michael Stipe. It peaked at No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart but the single was not released in the United States. Mike Mills had written the lyrics to the single "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville", and he had sung the cover song "Superman", but he had not sung his own work on a single release

Critical reception

Barbara Ellen from NME wrote, "This whilst still gorgeous does not match 'Losing My Religion's maverick vision, or the ecstatic giggle of 'Shiny Happy People'." Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt that "Near Wild Heaven" "already overdoes the contrast between dark-edged lyrics and a light-hearted melody by folding Mike Mills' lead vocal into a sugary arrangement. Adding strings to the recipe is like putting frosting on cherry pie."

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.7" / cassette
  1. "Near Wild Heaven"
  2. "Pop Song '89" 112"
  3. "Near Wild Heaven"
  4. "Pop Song '89" 1
  5. "Half a World Away" 2CD
  6. "Near Wild Heaven" – 3:18
  7. "Tom's Diner" 1 – 2:04
  8. "Low" 1 – 4:59
  9. "Endgame" 1 – 3:28

Personnel

Personnel taken from Out of Time liner notes.
R.E.M.
Additional musicians
Strings