"The One I Love" made us all pay attention to this upstart band from Athens, GA. breaking out in 1987. First FM radio broke it. Then Am radio followed along with alt/rock, and college radio played it too. It was a juggernaut of a break through. Described by Michael Stipe as a violent song. He made it clear that it was about people using people again and again. The word FIRE is actually a hook in the song. There is an incongruous acoustic version of the song that was much more restrained. Listen around 3:20 this afternoon. Andy Preston