Conversation so far:
How did the lyrics get written for R.E.M.'s Man on the Moon?
Stipe listened to the track on a walk around Seattle on his Walkman cassette player and was inspired to write about the performances of entertainer Andy Kaufman.
Who wrote the lyrics for R.E.M.'s Man on the Moon?
Michael Stipe
What are the lyrics of R.E.M.'s Man on the Moon about?
The song's lyrics do not tell a conventional story and may instead be seen as a collection of cultural references, images and ideas.

Question: what references are there
Self-contained rewrite: What references are there in the lyrics of R.E.M.'s Man on the Moon?