A Reminder
Radiohead Lyrics
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I will not give in
But if I do
Remind me of this
Remind me that
Once I was free
Once I was cool
Once I was me
And if I sat down
And crossed my arms
Hold me to
This song
Knock me out
Smash out my brains
If I take a chair
And start to talk shit
If I get old
Remind me of this
The night we kissed
And I really meant it
Whatever happens
If we're still speaking
Pick up the phone
Play me this song
The lyrics of Radiohead's "A Reminder" explore the theme of aging and the fear of losing oneself to the passage of time. The song presents a plea to a future version of oneself to not give in to the pressures of growing old and to hold onto the memories of one's youth. Lead singer Thom Yorke acknowledges that he might forget who he once was, so he begs a loved one to "remind me of this" if he ever does.
The song is a reflection on the fleeting nature of youth and a reminder to enjoy life while it lasts. Yorke longs to hold onto the freedom and coolness of his youth, and the lyrics paint a picture of a man struggling to hold onto his sense of self in the face of an uncertain future. The chorus of the song is a direct plea to a future self to not give in, to hold onto the memory of the person he once was and the love he once felt.
Musically, "A Reminder" uses a simple, repeating chord progression throughout. The song builds slowly and steadily, anchored around Yorke's plaintive vocal delivery. The stripped-back production emphasizes the emotional weight of the lyrics, letting Yorke's voice carry the message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
If I get old
In the future, if I age
I will not give in
I will not give up or lose my sense of self
But if I do
But in the event that I do
Remind me of this
Please remind me of the following
Remind me that
Please recall that
Once I was free
In the past, I had a sense of liberation and lack of constraints
Once I was cool
In the past, I was trendy or fashionable
Once I was me
In the past, I had a sense of personal identity and individuality
And if I sat down
If I were to take a seat
And crossed my arms
And folded my arms across my chest
Hold me to
Remind me of or enforce
This song
The very same song that I am currently listening to or singing
Knock me out
Physically stun me or render me unconscious
Smash out my brains
Cause severe cerebral damage by forcefully striking my head
If I take a chair
If I were to grab a chair and do something
And start to talk shit
And begin to spout nonsense, lies, or untruths
If I get old
If I were to age
Remind me of this
Please remind me of the following
The night we kissed
The evening on which we kissed intimately
And I really meant it
And I sincerely intended the action or felt genuine emotion when it occurred
Whatever happens
Regardless of what may occur
If we're still speaking
If we are still communicating or on good terms
Pick up the phone
Retrieve and answer the telephone
Play me this song
Play the same song that I am currently referencing to jog my memory or remind me of something important
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Yorke, Edward John O'brien, Colin Charles Greenwood, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip Selway
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind