The band shares a name with both the 1953 speech by American president Dwight D. Eisenhower and a song from Yorke's debut solo album The Eraser. On their website, under their name, is the phrase "Nerth Nuclerek? Na Vynnav" which is in the Cornish language and can be translated as Nuclear Power? No Thanks. This is the text from the Smiling Sun anti nuclear power logo, which has been translated into at least 49 languages, including Cornish.
Thom Yorke has stated that the members of Atoms for Peace bonded over a shared love of the music of afrobeat, and said in an interview that the debut album was "the product of getting together, getting wasted and listening to Fela Kuti."
http://www.atomsforpeace.info
Amok
Atoms for Peace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A penny for your thoughts my love
A swinging door, a swinging door
A penny for your thoughts
They try to jump me, they try to jump me
A penny for you thoughts my love
A penny for you thoughts my love
They possess me, they possess me, they possess me
I'm trying to be a thought killer
I'm trying to be a thought killer
They come back to bite me
?
A penny for you thoughts my love
A penny for you thoughts my love
They court disaster, They court disaster
I'm trying to be a thought killer
A penny for you thoughts my love
A penny for you thoughts
You'll forget me, You'll forget me
I'm trying to be a thought killer
A penny for you thoughts
They distract me, they distract me
A penny for you thoughts my love
I'm sending out choirs of angels
Trying round pieces of string
Pieces of string
To run amok run amok ran amok
To run amok
You got me you got me
You got me you got me
Back to bite me
Back to bite me
A penny for your thoughts
The opening lyrics "A penny for your thoughts my love, a penny for your thoughts" can be interpreted as the desperation to understand the thoughts of a loved one. The "swinging door" in the following line could represent the different moods and emotions that one experiences. The repetition of the line "A penny for your thoughts" could also represent the persistent longing to understand someone's innermost thoughts and desires.
The verse "They try to jump me, they try to jump me, a penny for your thoughts, they're spaghetti, they're spaghetti, they possess me, they possess me, they possess me" seems to suggest that the thoughts and emotions that are being sought after are elusive and hard to understand. The use of the phrase "they try to jump me" implies that these thoughts are attacking and overwhelming in nature. The imagery of spaghetti could represent the tangled and confusing nature of one’s thoughts, while the repetition of "they possess me" suggests that these thoughts have a powerful hold over their possessor.
The chorus "I'm trying to be a thought killer, they come back to bite me, a penny for your thoughts my love" portrays the struggle of trying to suppress these thoughts and emotions, only to have them resurface and cause harm. The line "they court disaster" suggests that these thoughts can lead to negative outcomes if not dealt with properly. Perhaps the most striking line in the song is "I'm sending out choirs of angels, trying round pieces of string, to run amok run amok ran amok, to run amok", which conjures images of desperate attempts to gain control over one's thoughts, even if it means resorting to supernatural means.
Overall, the song seems to be grappling with the overwhelming and often incomprehensible nature of human thoughts and emotions. The repeated plea for a penny for one's thoughts reflects the profound human desire for connection and understanding, even in the face of chaos and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
A penny for your thoughts my love
I am curious to know what you are thinking about, my love, and I am willing to pay for that knowledge.
A swinging door, a swinging door
The world is full of opportunities, just like a swinging door that keeps opening and closing.
They try to jump me, they try to jump me
There are people or thoughts that threaten me or try to attack me.
They're spaghetti, they're spaghetti
Those thoughts or people are tangled, confusing, and hard to understand.
They possess me, they possess me, they possess me
Those thoughts or people have a strong hold on me, controlling my actions and emotions.
I'm trying to be a thought killer
I am attempting to get rid of those problematic thoughts or people that haunt me, to no avail.
They come back to bite me
Those problematic thoughts or people keep returning, causing me harm or trouble.
They court disaster, They court disaster
Those problematic thoughts or people are potentially dangerous or harmful, and can lead to bad consequences.
You'll forget me, You'll forget me
You will eventually move on and forget about me or the problems that I am facing, but I will still be struggling.
They distract me, they distract me
Those problematic thoughts or people divert my attention and prevent me from focusing on what really matters.
I'm sending out choirs of angels
I am seeking help or guidance from a higher power or from people who are wise and kind-hearted.
Trying round pieces of string, Pieces of string
I am experimenting with various methods or solutions to solve my problems, but they seem useless or pointless.
To run amok run amok ran amok, To run amok
To take action and do something reckless or chaotic, out of frustration or desperation.
You got me you got me
I am trapped or defeated by those problematic thoughts or people and cannot find a way out.
Back to bite me, Back to bite me
Those problematic thoughts or people keep returning and causing me harm or trouble.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL BALZARY, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE, NIGEL TIMOTHY GODRICH, JOEY WARONKER, MAURO C REFOSCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@picxlart3021
A penny for your thoughts, my love
A swinging door
A penny for your thoughts
They try to jump me
A penny for your thoughts, my love
They're spaghetti
They possess me
I'm trying to be a thought killer
They come back to bite me
A penny for your thoughts, my love
They court disaster
I'm trying to be a thought killer
A penny for your thoughts, my love
You'll forget me
Tying round pieces of string
To run amok
I'm sending out choirs of angels
Tying round pieces of string
To run amok
You got me
You got me back
To bite me
A penny for your thoughts
@ernestodeavila8076
It took me about 4 hours to download this and watch from eastern afghanistan. Then on the plane to Germany from Kuwait City, the Lufthansa had the entire album and it was amazing. The line "Look out your window, what do you see?" I looked out and I saw hundreds of oil refineries the flames burning at night...from the point I knew I was supposed to be right there exactly where I was at that particular moment in time.
@ricardoxvii
I appreciate this comment
@rockphotochick
What an eloquent description of the world around you, and how it matched with the world inside of you. Thanks for posting this <3
@meugeniabaires
hermoso lo que te pasó
@lolnjeoglondajmejejplejlis3365
greeting from poland , i pay monthly like 20$ for 1Gbps internet and its real speed is around 40Mbps upload and 950 of download
@henrynichols1711
God comment
@TheWizardYeof
Thom singing “To run amok” is one of the greatest things in music I’ve ever known
@joebone6892
Look up Shinjuku mad, you might like it
@TheWizardYeof
Neo - Paca Thanks, I will!
@willswan7714
Absolutely incredible