Stipe sings about a group of friends who go skinny dipping at night, which draws from similar experiences in the band's early days.

"[2] While the song was not included on Out of Time, the demo recorded during those sessions was used for Automatic for the People, with a string arrangement by John Paul Jones added to the track.

guitarist Peter Buck recalled in 2003 that "[Stipe] listened once, nodded his head to hear it again, and on the second pass he sang the lyrics.

Stipe suggested an origin in a 2001 Esquire article: "A few years ago, I wanted to write a song about night watchmen, so I hired one to guard the R.E.M.

There is no fear in this music; death is the album's main character, but he's presented as a vehicle for self-empowerment ("Try Not to Breathe"), immortality ("Man on the Moon"), and spiritual fulfillment ("Find the River").

On "Nightswimming", death returns to his home in the past, and memory is revealed as the last light emanating from a star that has burned out.

Similar success may be difficult for this song, not being quite as universal as the last and due to the fact that the album Automatic for the People is now one of the biggest sellers of the year so far.

He declared it a "rather intense song" and added, "The usual assortment of exclusive live tracks will convert this into another big hit.

"[14] Paul Moody from NME noted "the poignant, croaky vocal from Sir Michael, the gorgeous, gossamer piano accompaniment and the lyric dripping with adult ennui".

[15] Parry Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel felt that "a repetitive piano riff and swelling strings overwhelm the slight tune.

"[16] In a 1992 review of Automatic for the People, Rolling Stone writer Paul Evans called "Nightswimming" a "masterpiece" and the band's most "gorgeous" song.