Christopher O'Riley is an American classical pianist and radio show host, w… Read Full Bio ↴Christopher O'Riley is an American classical pianist and radio show host, who is also known for his renditions of songs by the band Radiohead, Nick Drake and most recently Elliott Smith, using only a piano. O'Riley has produced many recordings of classical music and claims his renditions have introduced the music of Radiohead to a classical audience as well as introducing classical music to a wider audience, as he sometimes performs both his usual repertoire and Radiohead songs at the same concert.

Christopher O'Riley is also the host of the NPR Radio show 'From the Top' which features young classical musicians from all over the country. The show is to soon make its television debut on WTTW.

Street Spirit
Christopher O'Riley Lyrics

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Rows of houses, all bearing down on me
I can feel their blue hands touching me
All these things into position
All these things we'll one day swallow whole
And fade out again and fade out

This machine will, will not communicate
These thoughts and the strain I am under

Be a world child, form a circle
Before we all go under
And fade out again and fade out again

Cracked eggs, dead birds
Scream as they fight for life
I can feel death, can see its beady eyes
All these things into position
All these things we'll one day swallow whole
Fade out again
Fade out again

Immerse your soul in love
Immerse your soul in love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Christopher O’Riley’s song, Street Spirit, is a haunting refrain of the darkness lurking beneath the surface of an ostensibly modern, urban landscape. The rows of houses bearing down on the singer reveal an oppressive and claustrophobic environment within which they must navigate the demands and pressures of modern living. The blue hands are a powerfully emotive image of the suffocating grip of the city, with all its attendant stresses and challenges, that constantly encroaches on the individual’s sense of self.

The second verse appears to be a reflection on the difficulty of communication in an increasingly disconnected society, where the strain of trying to connect can feel overwhelming. The call to be a world child, form a circle, and come together before we all go under, is a poignant appeal for unity in a world that often feels fragmented and hostile.

The imagery of the cracking eggs and dead birds that fight for life is a powerful metaphor for the desperate struggle to survive in a world that often feels like it is falling apart. The beady eyes of death and the references to swallowing whole allude to the finality of death and the inevitability of its approach.

The final lines of the song, “immerse your soul in love” offer a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness, urging the listener to find solace and connection in love, even amidst the overwhelming forces of decay.

Line by Line Meaning

Rows of houses, all bearing down on me
The singer feels overwhelmed and oppressed by the sight of endless rows of houses.

I can feel their blue hands touching me
The singer is so suffocated by the environment around them that they can almost physically feel the weight of the buildings and structures.

All these things into position
Everything around us is purposefully arranged and positioned to create a specific environment.

All these things we'll one day swallow whole
Eventually, the structures and systems around us will consume us entirely and we'll be lost in them.

And fade out again and fade out
Just as our lives will be consumed by the world around us, our existence will eventually fade away and end.

This machine will, will not communicate
In an age where technology has become so central to communication, the singer feels unable to connect with those around them.

These thoughts and the strain I am under
The singer is struggling under a mental and emotional burden that is difficult to articulate or express.

Be a world child, form a circle
The artist urges listeners to join together in a global, united community.

Before we all go under
It's important for us to come together and support one another before we're all consumed by the world and fade away.

Cracked eggs, dead birds
The artist draws attention to the brutality and violence of life and nature.

Scream as they fight for life
Death and life are in a constant struggle and the singer can feel and hear the pain of that conflict.

I can feel death, can see its beady eyes
The artist is haunted by death and its inescapable presence in life.

Fade out again
Like everything else in our lives, moments and experiences will pass and disappear.

Immerse your soul in love
In the face of all the pain and uncertainty of life, the singer urges listeners to find comfort and support in love.

Immerse your soul in love
The chorus repeats the message that love is a powerful antidote to the struggles of life.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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