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Daydreaming
Radiohead Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dreamers
They never learn
They never learn
Beyond the point
Of no return
Of no return

And it's too late
The damage is done
The damage is done

This goes
Beyond me
Beyond you

The white room
By a window
Where the sun comes
Through

And we are
Just happy to serve
Just happy to serve
You

Overall Meaning

Radiohead's Daydreaming is a haunting and melancholic track that delves deep into the idea of self-destruction and emotional numbness. The opening lines of the song, "Dreamers, they never learn," sets the tone for the overall message of the song. It seems to be a commentary on those who daydream and never take action, leading to their inevitable downfall - "Beyond the point of no return." The repetition of these words only adds to the sense that the person is trapped in their own mind, unable to escape the cycle of dreaming without action, leading to a sense of self-defeat.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this sense of defeat has been accepted and that it's too late to turn back - "And it's too late, the damage is done." The repetition of the phrase "beyond me, beyond you" only adds to a sense of distance, as if the singer is addressing something greater than themselves. The lines "The white room by a window where the sun comes through" create a vivid image, but it adds to the sense of detachment and emptiness. The final lines "And we are just happy to serve you" suggest a finality and resignation. It almost seems like the singer is addressing an unknown entity, as if they've accepted their fate as nothing more than a servant.


The song's music video directed by Paul Thomas Anderson features Thom Yorke wandering through a series of doorways into different locations. Each setting fades into the next, and Yorke's appearance and demeanor change subtly over the course of the video. It's an impactful visual representation of how life changes and progresses, yet there's always a sense of longing and searching for something else.


Line by Line Meaning

Dreamers
People who dream and think big


They never learn
These dreamers never learn from their mistakes


They never learn
These dreamers never learn from their mistakes


Beyond the point
Beyond the point of no return, where there is no way back


Of no return
There is no way back from where these dreamers have gone


Of no return
There is no way back from where these dreamers have gone


And it's too late
It is too late to change what has happened


The damage is done
The harm caused by the mistakes of the dreamers is irreversible


The damage is done
The harm caused by the mistakes of the dreamers is irreversible


This goes
This situation is


Beyond me
Out of my control or understanding


Beyond you
Out of your control or understanding


The white room
A room painted white


By a window
Located beside a window


Where the sun comes
In a location where sunlight enters the room


Through
Through the window


And we are
We exist and are present


Just happy to serve
Content with helping and serving others


Just happy to serve
Content with helping and serving others


You
Referring to the person or people being served




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:

@callum3878

To me, this song/video represents one of the great tragedies of humankind. In the video, we can see Thom is looking for something. We don't know what that something is (and probably neither does Thom) but nonetheless he relentlessly pursues it, opening door after door.

The places he ends up in are fairly random in nature, alluding to the idea that very rarely does the outcome of our decisions match our expectations. It's one thing to imagine (daydream) about a better future, but it's another thing to actually live it. Rather than ending up somewhere better, you just end up somewhere else. And the thing you're chasing feels no closer than it did when you started. But you continue the chase anyway because well... "dreamers, they never learn".

This continual process of running away from the past and bargaining with the future is what has got us to where we are today. It's given us running water, cures to terrible diseases and the technology that allows me to share these thoughts with all of you. But make no mistake, we pay a heavy price for this, and it comes in the form of suffering.

An endless suffering that wakes up with you in the morning, follows you throughout your day, goes to bed with you at night and haunts you in your dreams while you sleep. It never goes away.

Towards the end, the music changes to a solemn tone. He's running out of time. He quickens his pace and desperately moves from door to door. But despite his efforts, the thing he seeks never reveals itself. Finally he arrives at a mountain. Death, in the form of a monstrous voice beckons him from the distance. Thom knows his time is up. Instead of running, he climbs the mountain to confront the monster that has taken so much from him throughout his life. But when he finally tracks it to it's cave, he realises that there is no monster. And as he lies down by the warm, cosy fire that welcomes him, he smiles as he realises his suffering is finally over.

This song doesn't offer us an answer to this problem. It simply acknowledges its existence and the role it plays in our everyday lives. But in doing so, it reminds people like me that I'm not alone in this struggle, that everyone experiences it. Consciously or not. And for reasons I'm not sure about, that makes it hurt less. As the saying goes "A problem shared is a problem halved". I hope In sharing this with us, Thom has alleviated some of that suffering for himself too.



@sinuos46

Lyrics
Dreamers
They never learn
They never learn
Beyond the point
Of no return
Of no return
Then it's too late
The damage is done
The damage is done
This goes
Beyond me
Beyond you
A white room
By a window
Where the sun comes
Through
We are
Just happy to serve
Just happy to serve
You



All comments from YouTube:

@MrWhite-gu7in

I was in a bar in Florida and they had an empty piano sitting there. In walked a very large Russian guy speaking broken English and he asked the bartender if he could play the piano. He started playing popular show tunes and no one was really paying attention to him . He seen me looking at him and he said to me what would you like to hear and I said I'm sure you don't know the music that I like and he replied try me. I said Radiohead. He started with this song, Daydreaming, and played about 10 songs by Radiohead before he left. I asked the bartender who he was and he said I have no idea I've never seen him before. It was great almost like a ghost walked in played Radiohead and then disappeared. It was an interesting night that I enjoyed immensely.

@summerstanding5346

Thank you for sharing that

@tomy34188

What a nice story! Thank you :)

@helterskelter7499

Interesting

@kairosdragon1130

You said the same thing at no surprises...

@kairosdragon1130

You said that he started with 'no surprises'

313 More Replies...

@SorooshMhs

Rare footage of a college freshman trying to find his class

@yamannourie7197

Damn 😂😂😂

@speakersr-lyefaudio6830

Soroosh Mhs
I see your a tool fan; good taste my friend.

@SorooshMhs

SpeakersR-lyef Audio i sure am /,,/

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