House of Cards
KITCHEN - Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just want to be your lover
No matter how it ends
No matter how it starts
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And fall off the table
Get swept under
Denial, denial
The infrastructure will collapse
Voltage spikes
Throw your keys in the bowl
Kiss your husband goodnight
And forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Fall off the table
And get swept under
Denial, denial
Denial, denial
(Your ears should be burning)
Denial, denial
(Your ears should be burning)
In "House of Cards" by Radiohead, the lyrics seem to express a desire for a purely physical and passionate relationship rather than a platonic friendship. The singer states, "I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover." They emphasize that they are not concerned about how the relationship may progress or how it begins. This line suggests that the singer is looking for a short-lived, intense connection without any long-term expectations.
The chorus, "Forget about your house of cards, and I'll do mine," carries a metaphorical meaning. A "house of cards" represents something built on a fragile foundation, easily collapsing when put under pressure. In this context, it could symbolize the singer's insistence on leaving behind any pretense or false constructions in the relationship. They encourage the other person to do the same, focusing on their own desires and instincts.
The phrase "fall off the table and get swept under" expresses a sense of recklessness and surrender. It implies willingly letting go, disregarding the consequences and getting lost in the intensity of the moment. This could suggest a disregard for potential pitfalls or problems that may arise in the relationship.
The next section shifts towards a more foreboding tone, with the mention of denial and the collapse of infrastructure. The lines "Denial, denial, the infrastructure will collapse, voltage spikes" could be seen as a metaphor for the fragility and instability of a relationship built on deception or falsehoods. The imagery of throwing keys into a bowl and kissing a husband goodnight hints at infidelity and the destruction of existing commitments.
The repetition of the phrase "Denial, denial" reinforces the theme of deliberately ignoring or avoiding the truth. The line "Your ears should be burning" suggests a sense of guilt or unease, as if the actions and intentions described in the song are causing discomfort or shame. Overall, "House of Cards" captures the complexities and uncertainties of a passionate but potentially destructive relationship, where denial and escapism become coping mechanisms for the individuals involved.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to be your friend
I desire a romantic relationship, not just a platonic friendship
I just want to be your lover
My intention is to have a passionate, intimate connection with you
No matter how it ends
Regardless of the outcome or conclusion
No matter how it starts
Irrespective of how the relationship begins
Forget about your house of cards
Disregard the fragile facade you've built
And I'll do mine
I will also abandon my own illusions
And fall off the table
Lose stability and balance, descending from a position of control
Get swept under
Be carried away and overwhelmed
Denial, denial
Refusing to acknowledge the truth or reality
The infrastructure will collapse
The foundation of our relationship will crumble
Voltage spikes
Intense surges of emotions
Throw your keys in the bowl
Engage in casual and promiscuous behavior
Kiss your husband goodnight
Bid farewell to the stability and commitment of your marriage
(Your ears should be burning)
You should feel a sense of unease or guilt
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, 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
@xxCasanova98xx
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
A green plastic watering can
For a fake Chinese rubber plant
In a fake plastic earth
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plans
To get rid of itself
[Chorus 1]
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out
[Verse 2]
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins
[Chorus 2]
And it wears him out
It wears him out
It wears him out
It wears
[Verse 3]
She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
[Chorus 3]
And it wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
[Outro]
And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time
All the time
@petersmith6248
Heard this blasting out of my teenage daughters room last night. My work is done here
@LoneShot95
well done you should check on her though
@KJ-je9pm
She got good taste
@ScorpionGaming5
This is both a great and very concerning thing...
@edgargomez66
Smart kid
@Snowcrash777
Good show Sir! lol True though! Radiohead has some great lessons/observations. ;)
@Sbibb27
I’m jealous of anyone who listens to this tune for the first time.
@caseyinmi1315
Hi I am Casey . . . Close but just listened yesterday . . Really stopped to listen . . Thanks
@Sbibb27
Casey In MI 😊🙌🧡
@abrahamfrancis2394
Listening these lyrics for the first time. I'd kill for that.