Black Swan
Atoms for Peace/Thom Yorke Lyrics

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What will grow crooked, you can't make straight
It's the price that you gotta pay
Do yourself a favor and pack you bags
Buy a ticket and get on the train
Buy a ticket and get on the train

Cause this is fucked up, fucked up
Cause this is fucked up, fucked up

People get crushed like biscuit crumbs
And laid down in the bitumen
You have tried your best to please everyone
But it just isn't happening
No, it just isn't happening

And it's fucked up, fucked up
And this is fucked up, fucked up
This your blind spot, blind spot
It should be obvious, but it's not.
But it isn't, but it isn't

You cannot kick start a dead horse
You just crush yourself and walk away
I don't care what the future holds
Cause I'm right here and I'm today
With your fingers you can touch me

I'm your black swan, black swan
But I made it to the top, made it to the top
This is fucked up, fucked up

You are fucked up, fucked up
This is fucked up, fucked up

Be your black swan, black swan
I'm for spare parts, broken up

Overall Meaning

The song "Black Swan" is a metaphor for individuality and nonconformity in a society that values conformity. The phrase "what will grow crooked, you can't make straight" suggests that some people are naturally inclined to be different and cannot be forced to conform to societal norms. The line "People get crushed like biscuit crumbs and laid down in the bitumen" describes the way that people who do not conform are often dismissed or even targeted by society. The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "this is fucked up," expresses the frustration and despair that accompany this experience.

The second verse of the song seems to address the futility of trying to please everyone. The line "You have tried your best to please everyone, but it just isn't happening" suggests that conformity is impossible and that trying to achieve it is a waste of time and energy. The phrase "this your blind spot, blind spot, it should be obvious, but it's not" suggests that society as a whole is blind to the value of nonconformity.

Line by Line Meaning

What will grow crooked, you can't make straight
Certain things in life cannot be changed no matter how hard you try.

It's the price that you gotta pay
Life has a cost and you have to pay it.

Do yourself a favor and pack you bags
It is better to move on to something new rather than staying stuck in one place.

Buy a ticket and get on the train
Take a chance and move on to something new.

Cause this is fucked up, fucked up
This situation is terrible.

People get crushed like biscuit crumbs
People can be easily broken down and destroyed.

And laid down in the bitumen
People are thrown away like garbage on the street.

You have tried your best to please everyone
You have put in effort to make everyone happy.

But it just isn't happening
Despite your efforts, you are unable to achieve what you want.

No, it just isn't happening
Your attempts have failed.

And this is fucked up, fucked up
This situation is terrible.

This your blind spot, blind spot
This is something you are not seeing clearly.

It should be obvious, but it's not.
The answer should be clear but it is not.

But it isn't, but it isn't
The answer is not clear.

You cannot kick start a dead horse
You cannot revive something that is already dead.

You just crush yourself and walk away
You only harm yourself more by trying to revive what is already dead.

I don't care what the future holds
I am not worried about the future.

Cause I'm right here and I'm today
I am living in the present.

With your fingers you can touch me
You can reach out to me and touch me.

I'm your black swan, black swan
I am the unexpected, rare thing in your life.

But I made it to the top, made it to the top
I have succeeded and reached the top despite being unexpected.

You are fucked up, fucked up
You are in a terrible state.

Be your black swan, black swan
Be the unexpected, rare thing in your own life.

I'm for spare parts, broken up
I am useless, broken down and waiting to be thrown away.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRAD GERMAIN, IAN ALEXANDER SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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