Pop Song '89

Album: Green (1988)
Charted: 86
Play Video
  • Hello, I saw you, I know you, I knew you
    I think I can remember your name, name
    Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
    I think I thought you were someone else

    Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
    Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)

    Hello, how are you, I know you, I knew you
    I think I can remember your name, name
    Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
    I think I thought you were someone else

    Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
    Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)

    Hello, my friend, are you visible today?
    You know I never knew that it could be so strange, strange
    Hello, I'm sorry, I lost myself
    I think I thought you were someone else

    Should we talk about the weather? (hi, hi, hi)
    Should we talk about the government? (hi, hi, hi, hi)

    Hi, hi, hi
    Hi, hi, hi, hi
    Hi, hi, hi
    Hi, hi, hi, hi
    Hi, hi, hi
    Hi, hi, hi, hi Writer/s: Bill Berry, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • Douglas Hatten from Kansas CityI had always imagined in my mind, and hoped it was true, that the studio asked them to please produce at least one popular hit on the album, and their answer was to create a song called "Pop Song 89."
  • Karen from Manchester, NhUh, Fred...correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the REM guys from Georgia, not NY?
  • Fred from Laurel, MdOK, this is one of those crazy, totally off-the-wall hunches, but here goes. I'm not a New Yorker, but I know that in NYC, the public schools are numbered, and noticing what this song's title is in initials, I was wondering, does anyone in REM have a connection to PS89? Anyone in the Big Apple know anything about this? Or did the band single out this song for a numerical title just because its sequence number happened to match the year of its release as a single, and my hunch is all wet?
  • Brad from Lexington, KyIt's not a parody of the Doors, it's a tribute to them, and is completely an R.E.M. original. Anyone who's ever heard "Hello, I Love You" could tell that. And no, it's not terrible, your taste in music is.
  • Cody from Lititz, Pai have to say this is terrible i saw it was a parody of the doors and had to listen to it....and i did...and now i want to cut off my ears...
  • David from Great Barrington, MaI always considered this song to be the band's social commentary about the state of pop music in 1989.Weather? Government?...Hi, Hi; is the best anyone could come up with. No one had the ability to write a pop song with meaning.
  • Bones from New Plymouth, New ZealandIt was released as a single in 89 but green was released in 88
  • Epp from Pittsburgh, PaThis song is about someone who really has no clue what to say to a girl. So instead of talking about passionate meaningful stuff, he makes small talk. Also, the 89 in the title is a double meaning- it's their 89th song and was released on the '89 alubum Green
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.