Originally released in 1981 as R.E.M.’s debut single on Hib-Tone, was later re-recorded and released in 1983 on their debut album, Murmur with IRS.

Radio Free Europe is a radio network run by the United States government that broadcasts to Europe and the Middle East. The mission of the broadcasts is to promote democracy and freedom, but has historically been a convenient broadcast outlet for the CIA, and in the song R.E.M. makes the point that this can easily cross the line into propaganda. “Radio Free Europe” is infamous for its nearly-indecipherable lyrics on this song. In a 1988 interview with NME, vocalist Michael Stipe admitted he hadn’t finished them by the time they recorded it, and described the lyrical content as “complete babbling.”

Drummer Bill Berry spoke of the track in Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011:

This song was pivotal to the continuation of our career. Most fans may not realize that for two years before Murmur was released, we barely made financial ends meet by playing tiny clubs around the southeast. Our gasoline budget prevented us from venturing further. Put simply, our existence was impoverished. College radio and major city club scenes embraced this song and expanded our audience to the extent that we moved from small clubs to medium-sized venues and the additional revenue made it possible to logically pursue this wild musical endeavor. I dare not contemplate what our fate would have been had this song not appeared when it did.