It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( and I Feel Fine ) - wikipedia It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( and I Feel Fine ) `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It '' redirects here. For the Steve Aoki extended play, see It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( EP ). `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' Cover of the USA 7 '' release Single by R.E.M. from the album Document B - side `` Last Date '' Released November 16, 1987 ( 1987 - 11 - 16 ) Format 7 '' 12 '' cassette CD Recorded Studio Sound Emporium, Nashville, Tennessee Genre Alternative rock folk rock post-punk Length 4 : 04 ( album version ) 3 : 29 ( single version ) Label I.R.S. Songwriter ( s ) Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills Michael Stipe Producer ( s ) Scott Litt R.E.M. R.E.M. singles chronology `` The One I Love '' ( 1987 ) `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' ( 1987 ) `` Finest Worksong '' ( 1988 ) `` Radio Song '' ( 1991 ) String Module Error : Match not found1991 `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' ( 1991 ) String Module Error : Match not found1991 `` Drive '' ( 1992 ) String Module Error : Match not found1992 `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' is a song by American rock band R.E.M., which first appeared on their 1987 album Document. It was released as a single in November 1987, reaching No. 69 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and later reaching No. 39 on the UK Singles Chart on its re-release in December 1991. The song originated from a previously unreleased song called `` PSA '' ( `` Public Service Announcement '' ) ; the two are very similar in melody and tempo. `` PSA '' was itself later reworked and released as a single in 2003, under the title `` Bad Day ''. In an interview with Guitar World magazine published in November 1996, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck agreed that `` End of the World '' was in the tradition of Bob Dylan 's `` Subterranean Homesick Blues ''. Contents 1 Lyrics 2 Chart performance 3 Music video 4 Track listing 4.1 Initial release 4.2 Re-issue 5 Personnel 6 Charts 7 Cover versions 8 See also 9 References Lyrics The track is known for its quick flying, seemingly stream of consciousness rant with a number of diverse references, such as a quartet of individuals with the initials `` L.B. '' : Leonard Bernstein, Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce, and Lester Bangs. In a 1990s interview with Musician magazine, R.E.M. 's lead singer Michael Stipe claimed that the `` L.B. '' references came from a dream he had in which he found himself at a party surrounded by famous people who all shared those initials. `` The words come from everywhere. '' Stipe explained to Q Magazine in 1992. `` I 'm extremely aware of everything around me, whether I am in a sleeping state, awake, dream - state or just in day to day life, so that ended up in the song along with a lot of stuff I 'd seen when I was flipping TV channels. It 's a collection of streams of consciousness. '' The song was included on the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum of songs thought to be `` lyrically questionable '' after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Chart performance The song was played repeatedly for a 24 - hour period ( with brief promos interspersed ) to introduce the new format for WENZ 107.9 FM `` The End '', a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio in 1992. When the station underwent a new format change in 1996, they again played the song in 24 - hour loop. There was a documentary film made about the station entitled The End of the World As We Knew It, released in 2009 which featured many of the former staffers and jocks. The song was featured in several satirical videos on YouTube, in connection with the prediction of radio pastor Harold Camping of Family Radio, that the world would end on May 21, 2011. Also, before the supposed Mayan apocalypse on December 21, 2012, sales for the song jumped from 3,000 to 19,000 copies for the week. Alternative radio station CFEX - FM in Calgary, Canada stunted by playing the song all day on December 21, 2012, interspersed with `` Get to Know a Mayan '' and `` Apocalypse Survival Tips '' segments. Music video The music video was directed by James Herbert, who worked with the band on several other videos in the late 1980s. It depicts a young skateboarder, Noah Ray, in a cluttered room of an abandoned, half - collapsed farmhouse. As he rummages through the junk, which includes several band pictures and flyers, he shows off various toys and items to the camera and plays with a dog that wanders into the house. As the video ends, he goes shirtless and starts performing skateboard tricks while still inside the room. Track listing Initial release `` 7 : IRS IRM 145 ( UK ) : `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' -- 4 : 04 `` This One Goes Out '' ( live acoustic version of `` The One I Love '' ) -- 4 : 19 `` 7 : IRS IRS - 53220 ( US ) ; cassette : IRS IRSC - 53220 : `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' -- 4 : 04 `` Last Date '' ( Floyd Cramer cover ) -- 2 : 13 `` 12 : IRS IRMT 145 : `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' -- 4 : 04 `` This One Goes Out '' ( live acoustic version of `` The One I Love '' ) -- 4 : 19 `` Maps and Legends '' ( live acoustic ) `` 12 Promo : IRS 7363 ( US ) : `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' -- 4 : 04 `` Disturbance at the Heron House ( Live from cassette 5.24. 87 McCabes Guitar Shop ) '' -- 3 : 41 Re-issue CD : IRS DIRMT 180 : `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' -- 4 : 04 `` Radio Free Europe '' -- 4 : 03 `` The One I Love '' ( Live Acoustic ) -- 4 : 19 CD : IRS DIRMX 180 : `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' -- 4 : 04 `` Radio Free Europe '' ( Hib - Tone version ) -- 3 : 46 `` White Tornado '' -- 1 : 59 `` Last Date '' -- 2 : 13 `` 7 : IRS IRM 180 ; cassette : IRS DIRMC 180 : `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' -- 4 : 04 `` Radio Free Europe '' -- 4 : 03 Personnel R.E.M. Bill Berry -- drums, backing vocals Peter Buck -- guitar Mike Mills -- bass guitar, backing vocals Michael Stipe -- lead vocals Charts Chart ( 1987 / 1991 ) Peak position Irish Singles Chart 22 UK Singles Chart 39 US Billboard Hot 100 69 US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 16 -- The single originally reached No. 87 in the UK. It reached No. 39 in 1991 upon re-release. -- Only charted in 1991 after the song 's re-release. Cover versions The cast of SMTV Live sang a variation of the song in the final episode on December 27, 2003. Vic Chesnutt, who was `` discovered '' by R.E.M. 's Michael Stipe, recorded a very loose cover of the song for the 1992 R.E.M. tribute album Surprise Your Pig. Newfoundland folk - rockers Great Big Sea covered the song on their 1997 album Play under the title `` End of the World ''. Their version is a minute and a half shorter than R.E.M. 's, yet still contains all the verses ( the faster time is achieved primarily by their increasing the tempo ). It peaked at # 24 on the Canadian Singles Chart on the week of April 6, 1998. DC Talk covered the song on their 1997 live album, Welcome to the Freak Show. The Suicide Machines covered the song for their 2001 release Steal This Record. American actress America Ferrera covered the song during episode `` Blackout ! '' of ABC television series Ugly Betty. On May 21, 2011, in preparation for the apparent 2011 end times prediction, the song was covered by Matt Nathanson, Sugarland, and Little Big Town in Holmdel, New Jersey, and Bon Jovi did a separate cover in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Orange County ska punk band Starpool released a cover of the song as a digital download on December 21, 2012. In 2011, Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional covered this song on his album Covered In The Flood. Peter Buffett covered the song and released it on December 21, 2012. Italian rocker and songwriter Ligabue covered the song and released it on his 4th album `` A che ora è la fine del mondo ? '' ( 1994 ) See also `` The End of Serialization as We Know It '' References Jump up ^ The Los Angeles Times : 20 Essential R.E.M. Songs Retrieved 5 October 2015 Jump up ^ `` R.E.M. HQ : Albums ''. Remhq.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2014. Jump up ^ `` YuppiePunk '' Podcast # 8 : List Songs ``. Yuppiepunk.org. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014. Jump up ^ Ventre, Michael ( 2005 - 10 - 29 ). `` Turn up the volume and cast your vote : Songs to inspire you for Election Day 2004 ''. MSNBC. Archived from the original on 2004 - 11 - 04. Retrieved 2006 - 09 - 01. Jump up ^ `` IT 'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT ( AND I FEEL FINE ) by R.E.M. '' Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2017 - 12 - 20. Jump up ^ Wendt, Michael ( 2008 - 06 - 14 ), The End of the World as We Knew It, retrieved 2016 - 03 - 12 Jump up ^ Olszewski, Mike ( 2003 - 01 - 01 ). Radio Daze : Stories from the Front in Cleveland 's FM Air Wars. Kent State University Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87338 - 773 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Doomsday facts ''. tribunedigital - chicagotribune. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 12. Jump up ^ `` Non-Apocalypse Spurs Sales ( Up 612 % ), Airplay Gains For R.E.M. 's ' End Of The World ' ''. Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2014. Jump up ^ `` Calgary Radio Station X92. 9 Plays ' It 's The End Of The World ' By R.E.M. All Day To Mark Mayan Calendar ''. Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved 14 July 2016. Jump up ^ Thompson, Jim. `` Video takes local kid 's life for a turn ''. Online Athens : REM in the hall. Athens Banner - Herald. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010. Jump up ^ `` Item Display -- RPM -- Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 7 November 2014. Jump up ^ Ableson, Jon. `` Chris Carrabba To Release `` Covered In The Flood '' Solo Album ``. Alter The Press !. Retrieved 17 June 2013. Jump up ^ `` BuffettNews.com View topic -- Buffett Covers R.E.M. '' Buffettnews.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014. R.E.M. Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills Michael Stipe ( Bertis Downs IV Jefferson Holt ) Nathan December Buren Fowler Peter Holsapple Barrett Martin Scott McCaughey Bill Rieflin Ken Stringfellow Joey Waronker Studio albums Murmur Reckoning Fables of the Reconstruction Lifes Rich Pageant Document Green Out of Time Automatic for the People Monster New Adventures in Hi - Fi Up Reveal Around the Sun Accelerate Collapse into Now Compilations Dead Letter Office Eponymous The Best of R.E.M. The Automatic Box Singles Collected In the Attic In Time iTunes Originals And I Feel Fine Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982 -- 2011 Complete Rarities : I.R.S. 1982 -- 1987 Complete Rarities : Warner Bros. 1988 -- 2011 7IN -- 83 -- 88 EPs Chronic Town Not Bad for No Tour Vancouver Rehearsal Tapes Live from London Reckoning Songs from The Olympia Other albums Man on the Moon r.e.m. IX R.E.M. Live Live at The Olympia Unplugged : The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions Singles `` Radio Free Europe '' `` Talk About the Passion '' `` So. Central Rain ( I 'm Sorry ) '' `` ( Do n't Go Back To ) Rockville '' `` Cant Get There from Here '' `` Driver 8 '' `` Wendell Gee '' `` Fall on Me '' `` Superman '' `` The One I Love '' `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' `` Finest Worksong '' `` Orange Crush '' `` Stand '' `` Pop Song 89 '' `` Get Up '' `` Losing My Religion '' `` Shiny Happy People '' `` Near Wild Heaven '' `` Radio Song '' `` Drive '' `` Man on the Moon '' `` The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite '' `` Everybody Hurts '' `` Nightswimming '' `` Find the River '' `` What 's the Frequency, Kenneth ? '' `` Bang and Blame '' `` Strange Currencies '' `` Crush with Eyeliner '' `` Tongue '' `` E-Bow the Letter '' `` Bittersweet Me '' `` Electrolite '' `` How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us '' `` Daysleeper '' `` Lotus '' `` At My Most Beautiful '' `` Suspicion '' `` The Great Beyond '' `` Imitation of Life '' `` All the Way to Reno ( You 're Gonna Be a Star ) '' `` I 'll Take the Rain '' `` Bad Day '' `` Animal '' `` Leaving New York '' `` Aftermath '' `` Electron Blue '' `` Wanderlust '' `` # 9 Dream '' `` Supernatural Superserious '' `` Hollow Man '' `` Man - Sized Wreath '' `` Until the Day Is Done '' `` Mine Smell Like Honey '' `` Überlin '' `` Oh My Heart '' `` We All Go Back to Where We Belong '' Other songs `` Sitting Still '' `` Gardening at Night '' `` Perfect Circle '' `` Pretty Persuasion '' `` Begin the Begin '' `` Cuyahoga '' `` Ages of You '' `` Turn You Inside - Out '' `` Texarkana '' `` Country Feedback '' `` First We Take Manhattan '' `` Ignoreland '' `` Dark Globe '' `` Star 69 '' `` New Test Leper '' `` All the Right Friends '' `` Out in the Country '' Videos Succumbs Tourfilm Pop Screen This Film Is On Parallel Road Movie In View Perfect Square When the Light Is Mine R.E.M. Live This Is Not a Show R.E.M. Live from Austin, TX REMTV Related articles Discography List of songs Tours Peter Buck Hindu Love Gods The Minus 5 Tuatara The Baseball Project Tired Pony Filthy Friends Athens Andover `` I Belong to You '' Hib - Tone Surprise Your Pig : A Tribute to R.E.M. Drive XV : A Tribute to Automatic for the People Great Big Sea Alan Doyle Bob Hallett Murray Foster Kris MacFarlane Séan McCann Darrell Power Studio albums Great Big Sea Up Play Turn Sea of No Cares Something Beautiful The Hard and the Easy Fortune 's Favour Safe Upon the Shore Compilations Rant and Roar XX Live albums Road Rage Great Big DVD and CD Courage & Patience & Grit Singles `` Run Runaway '' `` When I 'm Up ( I Ca n't Get Down ) '' `` Ordinary Day '' `` It 's the End of the World as We Know It ( And I Feel Fine ) '' `` Lukey 's Boat '' `` Consequence Free '' DVDs Great Big DVD Courage & Patience & Grit Related articles Discography Book : Great Big Sea Category : Great Big Sea Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It%27s_the_End_of_the_World_as_We_Know_It_(And_I_Feel_Fine)&oldid=853849493 '' Categories : Songs about Earth 1987 singles 1988 singles 1991 singles 1998 singles List songs R.E.M. songs Songs written by Bill Berry Songs written by Michael Stipe Songs written by Mike Mills Songs written by Peter Buck I.R.S. Records singles Song recordings produced by Scott Litt Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe Song recordings produced by Mike Mills Song recordings produced by Bill Berry Song recordings produced by Peter Buck Great Big Sea songs Patter songs 1987 songs Post-punk songs Folk rock songs Hidden categories : Music infoboxes with Module : String errors Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara Italiano Português Русский Slovenčina Edit links This page was last edited on 7 August 2018, at 10 : 12 ( UTC ). About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote it's the end of the world as we know it
Answer: Bill Berry