"Man on the Moon" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their 1992 album, Automatic for the People. The lyrics were written by lead singer Michael Stipe, and the music by drummer Bill Berry and guitarist Peter Buck, and credited to the whole band as usual.

The song was well received by critics and peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and number one in Iceland.

It remains one of R.E.M.'s most popular songs and was included on the compilations In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 and Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011.

Lyrically, the song is a tribute to the comedian and performer Andy Kaufman, with numerous references to his career, including his Elvis impersonation, wrestling, and the film My Breakfast with Blassie. The song's title and chorus refer to the Moon landing conspiracy theories, as an oblique allusion to rumors that Kaufman's death in 1984 was faked.

The song gave its name to Miloš Forman's comedy-drama film Man on the Moon (1999), starring Jim Carrey, based on Kaufman's life and was featured prominently in the film's soundtrack.

Lyrics

Mott the Hoople and the game of Life yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Andy Kaufman in the wrestling match yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Monopoly, Twenty one, checkers, and chess yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Mister Fred Blassie in a breakfast mess yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Let's play Twister, let's play Risk yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I'll see you in heaven if you make the list yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Now, Andy did you hear about this one?

Tell me, are you locked in the punch?

Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby

Are we losing touch?

If you believed they put a man on the moon

Man on the moon

If you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

Then nothing is cool

Moses went walking with the staff of wood yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Newton got beaned by the apple good yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Egypt was troubled by the horrible asp yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Mister Charles Darwin had the gall to ask yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Now, Andy did you hear about this one?

Tell me, are you locked in the punch?

Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby

Are you having fun?

If you believed they put a man on the moon

Man on the moon

If you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

Then nothing is cool

Here's a little agit for the never-believer yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Here's a little ghost for the offering yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Here's a truck stop instead of Saint Peter's yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Mister Andy Kaufman's gone wrestling yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Now, Andy did you hear about this one?

Tell me, are you locked in the punch?

Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby

Are we losing touch?

If you believed they put a man on the moon

Man on the moon

If you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

Then nothing is cool

If you believed they put a man on the moon

Man on the moon

If you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

Then nothing is cool

If you believed they put a man on the moon

Man on the moon

If you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

Then nothing is cool

If you believed they put a man on the moon

Man on the moon

If you believe there's nothing up his sleeve

Then nothing is cool