Rock and roll became known in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and quickly broke free from its western roots. According to many music critics, its "golden age" years were the 1980s (especially the era of perestroika), when the Soviet underground rock bands could release their records officially and perform in television and radio. Russian rock remained popular throughout the 1990s and 2000s, when new radio stations and festivals were established. By 2010s, however, new bands usually followed the worldwide rock trends rather than traditions of "classic" Russian rock.
Burn the Witch
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cheer at the gallows
This is a round up
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing a song on the jukebox that goes
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
Red crosses on wooden doors
And if you float you burn
Loose talk around tables
Abandon all reason
Avoid all eye contact
Do not react
Shoot the messengers
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing the song of sixpence that goes
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
We know where you live
The Radiohead song Burn the Witch is a piece of political commentary on the issue of collective fear and intolerance. It seems like the song depicts an unsettling portrait of a society where people are easily manipulated into turning against one another. The lines "Stay in the shadows, cheer at the gallows," suggest that people are complicit in the persecution of others by standing idly by rather than taking a stand against it. "This is a round-up" implies that fear has created a mob mentality where people are taking action against individuals that are labeled as "the other."
The lyrics "Red crosses on wooden doors, and if you float you burn" suggest that the victims of this witch hunt are identified through superstitions and are judged or punished harshly. The urgency and fear in the statement "This is a low flying panic attack" reflects the chaos and confusion caused by this collective fear. The line "Avoid all eye contact, do not react, shoot the messengers" probably refers to the paranoia that has set in, where anyone who questions the witch hunt or speaks out against it is seen as a threat.
The repeated chant of "Burn the witch, burn the witch, we know where you live" signifies the power of this fear and how easily it can inspire acts of violence against others. Ultimately, the song serves as a warning against the dangers of intolerance and blind groupthink.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay in the shadows
Hide from danger and avoid being seen
Cheer at the gallows
Enjoy watching the executions of others
This is a round up
People are being rounded up and arrested
This is a low flying panic attack
The situation is stressful and scary
Sing a song on the jukebox that goes
Distract yourself from the fear and danger
Burn the witch
Blame and punish someone for the situation
Burn the witch
Continue to blame and punish someone
We know where you live
People are being watched and monitored
Red crosses on wooden doors
Homes are being marked and identified
And if you float you burn
Even if you are innocent, you will be punished
Loose talk around tables
People gossip and spread rumors
Abandon all reason
There is no logic or justification for the situation
Avoid all eye contact
Don't draw unwanted attention to yourself
Do not react
Remain calm and don't show fear
Shoot the messengers
Blame those who try to bring attention to the problem
Sing the song of sixpence that goes
Continue to distract yourself from the fear and danger
Burn the witch
Keep looking for someone to blame and punish
Burn the witch
Continue to punish and blame that person
We know where you live
People are aware of your location and actions
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Edward O'Brien, Philip Selway, Thom Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hironigaishi
Stay in the shadows
Cheer at the gallows
This is a round-up
This is a low-flying panic attack
Sing the song on the jukebox that goes
[Chorus]
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
[Verse 2]
Red crosses on wooden doors
If you float, you burn
Loose talk around tables
Abandon all reason
Avoid all eye contact
Do not react
Shoot the messengers
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing the song of sixpence that goes
[Chorus]
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
We know where you live
@SoCloseToToast
The progression in this song is amazing!
@ThunderLips730
precisely. excellent point
@pvtrichter8816
+TheAndroidBro I don't give credit to the tone-deaf!! THIS IS BRILL!!
@Danimal300zx
+TheAndroidBro
STOP SAYING I KNOW RIGHT!!! Generation ZERO.
@KennyUtube
sempi
@kylesmith3969
+SoCloseToToast very
@Guiny
We're studying this song in school, the gradual build up through the events in the songs narrative, lyrics, and storytelling is incredible!
@palnet9026
Me too! Big fan guiny. Good luck :)
@danitempest
Man I wish I had a teacher like yours back when I was in school. So have you learned much from Radiohead yet thanks to your teacher? :)
@the2ndcoming135
Y’all be having them young buls🙋🏽♂️