Disturbance at the Heron House

Album: Document (1987)
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Songfacts®:

  • Lead singer Michael Stipe explained to Rolling Stone, November 12, 2009: "The song was my take on Animal Farm, an uprising dismissed by the powers that be. There were rumors then that Reagan's vice president, Bush Senior, might run. I thought those were dark years, the '80s. We had no idea what was to come."

Comments: 3

  • Allan Wood from British ColumbiaThe line "the followers of chaos out of control" is probably a sly reference to Get Smart, a spoof of James Bond and spies in general. Maxwell Smart was Agent 86 for Control (based in Washington, DC, the location of the "monument") and the evil criminal organization they battled was called KAOS.
  • Karenbat from Bristol UkGreat song
  • Mark from New York, Ny"Cogs and grunts and hirelings" and "the followers of chaos our of control" Fantastic lyrics to my favorite song.
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