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Burn the Witch
Radiohead Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

Stay in the shadows
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

Overall Meaning

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
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Hironigai Shi

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



The Pilgrim In The Unkown

Stay in the shadows
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



All comments from YouTube:

SoCloseToToast

The progression in this song is amazing!

Jack Wagner

nooo i dont think they know what chord progressions are to be honest, u should listen to Gravity by Slander to hear some real music.

BotanyDegree2012 Pilkerton

becomes a wall of sounds, anyone who is marginalised today, from the homeless to the unvaggst, is treated like witch, hunted..

Sonya Blade's Booty

@Danilo Silva Stay in the shadows
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

Danilo Silva

It uses only major chords. There is not a single minor chord in any part of the song and they still managed to make it sound as dark as possible

Diego C.

North - Phoenix: Hold my beer…

36 More Replies...

Matthew Lawson

I have no idea how anyone can come up with this. The instrumentation is so unique. The buzzy synth bass under the plucky strings and weird percussion…. Incredible.

Sylvester K

Whoa, relax, that's too many buzz words in one sentence.

J B

@álvaro That's what bands like Radiohead listen to, to take some parts of it and convert it to an easier-to-listen-to pop tune

álvaro

Listen to oneotrix point never

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