The Ukulele Alphabet: Nightswimming by R.E.M.

Letter N, Week 2
“Nightswimming” by R.E.M.

I swear I do not plan these things in advance. The alphabet progresses in, well, alphabetical order, and the weeks of the year pass one by one.

But it just so happens that for the second year in a row, the song chosen for my ukulele project lines up so serendipitously with our weekend at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire that it feels too coincidental.

Last year, the Surprise Songs Set for week 29, performed live exactly 365 days ago, featured “the lakes.”

And this year, it’s “Nightswimming,” which was pretty much my only legal choice for the N song in the project.

If I had to make a life-or-death decision on my most favorite song in the world, this would be a top contender.

R.E.M. has been my band since March 27, 1991, when I first saw the video for “Losing My Religion” in a life-changing moment. Who would Casey have been if she hadn’t stayed home sick from school that day?

I will fight anyone who doesn’t believe Automatic for the People is a perfect album, with this and “Find the River” as dreamlike send-off songs. I know nothing can top the emotional swell of the original (and many who are better musicians than me have tried!), but I had to pay homage as best as I could.

And I hope the circumstances of filming this performance make up for the less-than-ideal quality of this video. I chose the lake to be my rhythm section at dusk following an impressive rainstorm, right as the signature Lake Winnipesaukee sunset show was ending.

It was also just as the bitey insects were coming out for the evening, so I had to get it done in one take before escaping to the safety of the house.

To that end, check out the bug cameo at 2:34!

Listen to the original version of “Nightswimming”:

What’s the Ukulele Alphabet?

Read all about my 2025 ukulele performance project (and its rules) here.

I want to A-B-SEEEE some more!

Watch all the performances in the Ukulele Alphabet project.