Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief
Radiohead Lyrics
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Out of sight and out of mind, lonely
And they pray
The ones you light your fires to keep away
Crawling out upon, expending
And all you have to do is say yeah
All the birds stay up in the trees
All the fish swim down too deep lonely
And they pray
Honey, come to me before it's too late
The ones you light your fires to keep away
Is crawling out upon, expelling
And all you have to do is say yeah
The lyrics to Radiohead's song Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief are open to interpretation, but one possible meaning is that the holes represent negative emotions or experiences that have been suppressed or ignored. These emotions are coming to the surface, and the singer feels lonely and isolated because of them. The mention of prayer suggests that the singer is seeking some kind of resolution or guidance in dealing with these emotions.
The reference to lighting fires to keep certain things away could represent the singer's attempt to avoid confronting these negative emotions. However, these feelings are still "crawling out upon" and "expending," meaning that they are exerting themselves in spite of the singer's efforts to keep them suppressed. The repeated refrain of "all you have to do is say yeah" could be a call to action, encouraging the singer to acknowledge and confront these feelings instead of trying to ignore them.
The final lines of the song seem to express a sense of urgency or desperation, with the singer pleading for someone to come to them before it's too late. This could suggest that the singer is seeking help or support in dealing with these difficult emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
All the holes at once are coming alive, set free
All the suppressed emotions and feelings are being unleashed and set free all at once.
Out of sight and out of mind, lonely
When something is out of sight, it is often forgotten and neglected, leading to loneliness.
And they pray
The characters in the song are hoping and praying for a better future.
The ones you light your fires to keep away
The people or things that are meant to be kept away or avoided, but are often the source of inspiration or motivation.
Crawling out upon, expending
Facing and overcoming the obstacles and challenges in life, and making the necessary efforts to achieve one's goals.
And all you have to do is say yeah
It only takes a small amount of affirmation or positivity to keep going and find success.
All the birds stay up in the trees
Birds, like people, often retreat to a safe place when danger is near.
All the fish swim down too deep lonely
Fish, like people, can experience loneliness and retreat to the depths to escape it.
Honey, come to me before it's too late
A plea for help or support before it is too late to make a difference.
Is crawling out upon, expelling
Overcoming challenges and persevering, while pushing out negative energy and emotions.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'Brien, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind