Radio
Âޱȡ¤ÍþÁ®Ä·Ë¹(Robbie Williams) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's chosen my attic
I feel it in the static
He lives in my basement
And I can hardly face it
My performance is easy
I am the god of romance
I have the right to reign
He's stolen my Oscars
He trades on my jokes
He makes all my engines go oh oh oh oh
He puts an "e" in the arsenal
A comb in my 'fro
Devine retribution
And away we will go
Hey hey hey hey
Something's happening I can feel it
Moving out of time you'll hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping thumping shout out something
Jumping thumping shout out something
Listen to the radio
And you will hear the songs you know
Make it effervescent here
And you might have a job my dear
My dear
I'm searching for something
Beyond my understanding
Looking for meaning
Where nothing is demanding
There are no surprises
Where nothing is expected
If you offer nothing
Then everyone accepts
He's stolen my Oscars
He trades on my jokes
He makes all my engines go oh oh oh oh
He puts an "e" in the arsenal
A comb in my 'fro
Devine retribution
And away we will go
Hey hey hey hey
Something's happening I can feel it
Moving out of time you'll hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping thumping shout out something
Jumping thumping shout out something
Listen to the radio
And you will hear the songs you know
Make it effervescent here
And you might have a job my dear
My dear
Ouch
Ouch
Ouch
Radio
Ouch ouch
Ouch
Ouch
Radio
Something's happening I can feel it
Moving out of time you'll hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping thumping shout out something
Something's happening I can feel it
Moving out of time you'll hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping thumping shout out something
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
The lyrics to Robbie Williams' song Radio describe the feeling of being overshadowed and copied by someone else, represented by an unseen entity who lives in the singer's attic and basement, steals their Oscars, and trades on their jokes. The singer, who presents themselves as a "god of romance," is disoriented and confused but feels entitled to their position. They contrast this with the calm and predictable nature of the world around them, where "there are no surprises" and "everyone accepts" whatever is offered. The repeated refrain of "ouch" suggests a level of discomfort and pain associated with this situation.
There is a sense of tension and energy throughout the song, emphasized by the driving beat and repetition of phrases like "something's happening." The image of sound moving "out of time" adds to this feeling of unease and uncertainty. The chorus encourages the listener to "listen to the radio" for a sense of familiarity and comfort, but also hints that making something "effervescent" might lead to success.
Overall, Radio seems to be a meditation on the nature of creativity, originality, and success, and the ways in which these can be challenged by outside forces. The singer vacillates between asserting their own superiority and feeling overwhelmed by the situation, suggesting a complex and nuanced understanding of these themes.
Line by Line Meaning
He's chosen my attic
Someone has invaded the singer's personal space by choosing to reside in their attic.
I feel it in the static
The singer is feeling the presence of the intruder in their home, causing an uneasy feeling.
He lives in my basement
The intruder has further extended their stay by moving into the singer's basement.
And I can hardly face it
The thought of confronting the intruder is difficult for the singer to bear.
My performance is easy
The singer is confident in their ability to perform.
I am the god of romance
The singer sees themselves as a master of romantic pursuits.
And in my confusion
Despite their confidence, the singer is experiencing some confusion or uncertainty.
I have the right to reign
The singer feels entitled to assert their dominance or control over the situation.
He's stolen my Oscars
The intruder has somehow obtained the singer's accolades or achievements, possibly through imitation.
He trades on my jokes
The intruder is using the singer's sense of humor or comedic style for their own gain.
He makes all my engines go oh oh oh oh
The intruder has an influence on the singer's inner workings, causing excitement or anxiety.
He puts an "e" in the arsenal
The intruder has made a change to something that the singer holds dear, possibly a reference to the word "arsenal" being misspelled.
A comb in my 'fro
The intruder has made an alteration in the singer's personal appearance, possibly by adding a comb to their hair.
Devine retribution
The singer believes that punishment or justice will be delivered by a higher power.
And away we will go
The situation will come to an end and things will move forward.
Something's happening I can feel it
The singer senses a change or shift happening.
Moving out of time you'll hear it
The change is noticeable and audible, happening outside of the expected rhythm or pattern.
Falling in the way you fear it
The change may be unsettling or scary for some.
Jumping thumping shout out something
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm for the change.
Listen to the radio
The singer suggests listening to the radio, a source of familiar songs and entertainment.
And you will hear the songs you know
The radio will play familiar songs and provide comfort in familiarity.
Make it effervescent here
The singer wants to create a lively, sparkling atmosphere.
And you might have a job my dear
The singer suggests that by creating an exciting atmosphere, others may find employment opportunities.
I'm searching for something
The singer is looking for something, possibly something deeper or more meaningful than their current situation.
Beyond my understanding
The singer doesn't fully comprehend what they are searching for.
Looking for meaning
The singer is searching for a sense of purpose or significance.
Where nothing is demanding
The singer is looking for a place where they can find meaning without being forced or pressured to do so.
If you offer nothing
If one doesn't put any effort or attempt to find meaning, they will not likely find it.
Then everyone accepts
Others will simply accept the lack of meaning if one does not seek it out or offer it.
Ouch
An expression of pain, possibly related to the challenges the singer is facing.
Contributed by Carter R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.