The second track from 'Automatic for the People' is the album's first one about death. But the song’s title originated with a much more innocuous statement.
Initially planning to make a big rock record, R.E.M. decided to focus on acoustic sounds and dark themes on their eighth and, perhaps, most celebrated album.
R.E.M. named the 'Document' track "Lightnin' Hopkins" after the Texas bluesman, in spite of the song's lyrics having nothing to do with the late musician.