Years active: since 1985.
He also uses modular synthesizers, a Korg Kaoss Pad, and a laptop (for voice clips/modulation) on newer tracks. Jonny also uses a Rhodes Seventy Three piano, a prominent feature during the OK Computer era. Jonny is one of the most prominent users of the Ondes Martenot, an early electronic musical instrument with a keyboard and slide. He uses Ondes Martenot on the soundtrack to the film Bodysong, as well as in Radiohead, and mainly around the Kid A / Amnesiac era, on songs such as 'Pyramid Song' and 'How to Disappear Completely'.
Apart from his work with Radiohead, Greenwood is also a composer, and has produced several classical works, some inspired by Polish composer Penderecki, as part of his tenure as the BBC's composer-in-residence. He also composed the soundtracks to the films Bodysong (2003), There Will Be Blood (2007) and Norwegian Wood (2010). Some of his more recent scores include We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) and a return to working with director Paul Thomas Anderson, in his latest film The Master (2012).
Get Thee Behind Me Satan
Jonny Greenwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to resist
But the moon is low and I can't say "no"
Get thee behind me
Get thee behind me, Satan
I mustn't be kissed
But the moon is low and I may let go
Someone I'm mad about
Is waiting in the night for me
Someone that I mustn't see
Satan, get thee behind me
He promised to wait
But I won't appear and he may come here
Satan, he's at my gate
Get thee behind me
Stay where you are
It's too late
The lyrics of Jonny Greenwood's "Get Thee Behind Me Satan" is a song about temptation and the struggle to resist it. The song is a desperate plea to Satan to stay away and not allow the singer to give in to their desires.
The first verse sets the tone of the song, with the singer expressing their desire to resist Satan. However, they acknowledge that the moon is low and temptation is strong, making it difficult to do so. The second verse continues with this struggle, with the singer admitting that they cannot allow themselves to be kissed by someone they are mad about. The singer knows that this person is waiting for them in the night but realizes that it is better to avoid them than to give in to the temptation.
The chorus, "get thee behind me," is a plea to Satan to stay away and not allow the singer to give in to their impulses. The third verse reveals that Satan is at the singer's gate, representing the constant presence of temptation. The singer knows that it is too late and that they have already given in to temptation. However, they continue to plead with Satan to stay where he is and not allow things to get worse.
Overall, the song is a relatable expression of the internal struggle to resist temptation and the realization that sometimes it is better to avoid those situations altogether.
Line by Line Meaning
Get thee behind me, Satan
I must distance myself from temptation and resist temptation
I want to resist
I have the willpower to resist Satan's attempts to lure me
But the moon is low and I can't say "no"
Despite my desire to resist, I am feeling weak and vulnerable because of external factors (such as the moonlight)
Get thee behind me
I must continue to resist Satan's temptation and not give in
I mustn't be kissed
I know that giving in to this temptation will have negative consequences and I should not give in to that temptation
But the moon is low and I may let go
I am feeling tempted and may be unable to resist even though I know it is not a good idea
Someone I'm mad about
I have strong romantic feelings for someone
Is waiting in the night for me
That person desires to be with me, and is waiting for me to join them
Someone that I mustn't see
I know that seeing this person is not a good idea and should be avoided
Satan, get thee behind me
I am invoking the powers of Satan to resist temptation and avoid giving in to the temptation to see this person
He promised to wait
The person I desire to be with has promised to hold off until they see me
But I won't appear and he may come here
I have not shown up, but the person I desire to be with may still come to me
Satan, he's at my gate
I am still feeling tempted and the person I desire to be with is close to me
Get thee behind me
I am reminding myself to resist temptation and not give in to the desire to see this person
Stay where you are
I am telling the person I desire to be with to remain in their current location
It's too late
I have given in to temptation and I am now regretting that decision
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind