Oddfellows Local 151

Album: Document (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Guitarist Peter Buck explained to Q magazine in 1992: "That song is actually about all these winos who used to live down the street from us. They used to live in cars. We call them The Motor Club. These old guys would sleep in the cars and drink all the time. I think there was a guy called Pee Wee as well. Michael (Stipe) knew them because he used to live right next door to them. Every once in a while you'd give them five bucks or drop off a bottle."
  • Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard's first band in high school was called Oddfellows Local, after this song.
  • The rock band Local H got their name by combining part of this song title with that of another R.E.M. song, "Swan Swan H."

Comments: 1

  • Chris from Germany Awesome Song and one of their best and darkest songs.... DOCUMENT was a great album.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.