In 1992, REM reached out to a rock legend to make their song perfect. Now, it has been streamed over 600,000,000 times

R.E.M. enlisted Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones to arrange strings for “Everybody Hurts”, helping turn an early, spare song idea into the expansive ballad released on their 1992 album *Automatic for the People*. The song’s message urging people in despair to seek another way has resonated with listeners, with some telling singer Michael Stipe that it saved their lives.

Drummer Bill Berry first sketched the song as a short country-style piece, and guitarist Peter Buck helped steer it towards a soulful sound. Jones arranged strings for “Everybody Hurts” and three other album tracks with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; the single reached number seven in the UK, and the article says it has been streamed more than 600 million times.