American rock-n-roll band R.E.M. have had many hit singles that have penetrated the cultural zeitgeist, but perhaps none of them are more weird and endearing than “Stand,” the second single released from the 1988 studio album Green. You may remember it as the theme song to the early 1990s Chris Elliott sitcom vehicle Get a Life, or “Weird Al” Yankovic parodying it as “Spam” from the UHF soundtrack. However, you might not know that the lyrics to “Stand” could be interpreted as mobility instructions for the blind.

While it may seem unlikely, R.E.M.’s “Stand” can actually serve as a useful tool for learning to cane travel. The song’s upbeat tempo and catchy chorus make it an ideal track to use while practicing cane techniques such as finding and tracking a straight line. By walking in time with the song’s rhythm and focusing on maintaining a consistent stride, cane travelers can improve their spatial awareness and mobility skills. Additionally, the song’s lyrics (“Stand in the place where you live / Now face north”) can serve as a reminder to pay attention to one’s surroundings and orient oneself appropriately. Cray, right? 

Who sings that song “Stand in the place where you were”?

“Stand” is performed by R.E.M., an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980. Over the course of their 3-decade career, they released 15 studio albums and became one of the most influential and commercially successful bands of their era, and were even being stalked by Butthole Surfers at one point. R.E.M.’s music was characterized by jangly guitars, Michael Stipe’s distinctive vocals, and poetic lyrics that often tackled political and social issues when they weren’t wandering into incomprehensible gibberish. They were also known for their commitment to independent and alternative music, and their influence can be heard in countless bands that followed in their wake since their debut record Murmur was released in 1983. In 2011, R.E.M. announced their breakup, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with fans and musicians around the world.

Which R.E.M. record album is “Stand” on?

R.E.M.’s “Stand” is the second single from Green, the 6th studio album released by the iconic rock-n-roll band. Released in 1988, the album is characterized by a wide range of musical styles, from upbeat and catchy pop rock to somber, politically charged ballads. With its mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation, “Green” showcased the band’s versatility and experimentation, while still maintaining their signature sound. The album’s themes include environmentalism, social justice, and the struggle for personal identity and freedom. Overall, Green is regarded as one of R.E.M.’s strongest and most influential works, cementing their status as one of the most important rock-n-roll bands of the 1980s and beyond. In fact, none other than Kurt Cobain of Nirvana put Green among his personal top 50 records. Buy it today right now!

Click on the record cover to purchase R.E.M.’s Green on vinyl today!

Does R.E.M.’s “Stand” include mobility instructions for the Blind?

The comments on YouTube pages can be some heartbreaking and tender shit. Case in point: this gem found in this YouTube page for R.E.M.’s 1989 hit single “Stand,” where a person posted this:

Fucking lovely, right? And mind-blowing as well, to learn that such an iconic band with seemingly pithy throwaway lines that was originally supposed to be a send-up of 1960s bubblegum pop songs by bands like The Monkees and The Archies ended up making this kind of impact. Michael Stipe even once told MTV that the lyrics were intentionally inane. But lyrics often take on brand-new meanings that the writer and singer never dreamed of intending in the first place, and it seems like that’s exactly what happened here.

How to learn cane travel with one song!

As this heartbreakingly beautiful comment points out, a mobility teacher named Ron Turner used R.E.M.’s “Stand” to help blind folks learn to tap in step, use a braille compass, and follow landmarks. The lyric “If you are confused / Check with the sun” is what a vision-impaired person is supposed to do if they are unsure of where they are going. “Stand in the place where you were” means to go back to a familiar spot and do not move until you figure it out or get help. “Your head is there / To move you around” can help with the address system and with mental mapping. Wild, isn’t it? If you’ve been listening to this song for 35 years without any idea that the lyrics had any kind of significant meaning, then your mind might be a lil blown right now. As Hearth keeper wanderings themself point out, tap along to the beat and imagine you are walking with a cane and see for yourself!

Goodnight, Ron Turner, wherever you are

The internet is a terrible cesspool filled by misguided people spouting horrible hateful ideas and ideals. But! Sometimes there are wonderful beautiful nuggets of heartwarming testimonies like the one Mx. Hearth keeper wanderings left for their beloved friend mobility instructor Ron Turner on the YouTube website. It would probably be pretty difficult to track down this Ron Turner person, but let’s hope they are fully aware of the impact they’ve had on the lives of others.

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