Song · R.E.M.
“Sweetness Follows” by R.E.M.
From the album Automatic for the People (1992)
“Sweetness Follows” by R.E.M. appears on 9 radio countdowns from 2 stations between 1999 and 2026. It was first released in 1992 on the album Automatic for the People. Its best result is #60 on The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s. In the combined RockLists rankings it is #2,198 alternative song of all time.
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"Sweetness Follows" sits deep inside R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People, released in October 1992, and it's one of the album's darkest, most beautiful passages. All four members share the writing credit, and the band produced it with Scott Litt, who mixed it with engineer Clif Norrell.
The secret weapon is Knox Chandler's cello, a low, mournful drone that hangs over the track like weather, while Michael Stipe sings with a tenderness that feels close to grief. It moves slowly and deliberately, patient enough to let a little light break through by the end, which is exactly what the title promises.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
All Rock Formats
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 819 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) | 2000 |
| 2000 | 870 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) | 2001 |
| 2001 | 872 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) | 2002 |
| 2002 | 872 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) | 2003 |
| 2003 | 869 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) | 2004 |
| 2004 | 869 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) | 2005 |
| 2005 | 870 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) | 1994 |
| 2022 | 60 | The Colorado Sound | The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s | 900 |
| 2026 | 702 | The Colorado Sound | The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound | 1055 |
Also listed as: Sweetness Floows.
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