Let Down
Ofln - Radiohead Lyrics
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Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles
When it comes it's so, so, disappointing
Let down and hanging around
Let down and hanging around
Shell smashed, juices flowing
Wings twitch, legs are going
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel
One day, I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Let down
Let down
Let down
You know, you know where you are with
You know where you are with
Floor collapsing, falling
Bouncing back and one day, I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction (you know where you are)
Hysterical and useless (you know where you are)
Hysterical and (you know where you are)
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
The lyrics of "Let Down" by Radiohead are complex and enigmatic, as is typical of the band's music. On the surface, the song seems to describe a modern, metropolitan world of transportation and disappointment. The opening lines describe the humdrum experience of traveling on "motorways and tramlines," with its repetitive "starting and then stopping" and "taking off and landing." But the song quickly shifts to a more emotional register, as it portrays the "emptiest of feelings" and the "disappointed people, clinging on to bottles." The sense of disillusionment is palpable, and the titular refrain of "let down and hanging around" captures the feeling of being stuck in a rut.
Yet, even amidst the sense of malaise, there are glimmers of hope and transcendence. The imagery of "shell smashed, juices flowing" and "wings twitching, legs are going" suggests an almost biological or spiritual transformation, as if the singer is evolving into something new. The line "don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel" implies a rejection of nostalgia and sentimentality, and a yearning for something more authentic and transformative. This is echoed in the final lines, which describe the "floor collapsing, falling" and then "bouncing back" - a cycle of destruction and renewal that culminates in the singer's aspiration to "grow wings" and achieve a "chemical reaction."
Overall, "Let Down" is a powerful and evocative song, full of potent imagery and obscured meanings. Its themes of disappointment, disillusionment, and transformation resonate deeply and remain as relevant today as when the song was first released in 1997.
Line by Line Meaning
Transport, motorways and tramlines
The various ways people move around and connect with each other
Starting and then stopping
The impermanence of connection and the fleeting nature of relationships
Taking off and landing
The ups and downs of life and how they affect us
The emptiest of feelings
The emotional void that comes from not finding true connection
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles
People drowning their sorrows after failed relationships
When it comes it's so, so, disappointing
The letdown that always comes after hoping for something more
Let down and hanging around
Feeling helpless and stuck after disappointment
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Feeling small and insignificant after disappointment
Shell smashed, juices flowing
The physical and emotional pain that comes from vulnerability
Wings twitch, legs are going
The desire for escape and freedom from pain and disappointment
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel
The warning against becoming too attached and vulnerable because it never ends well
One day, I am gonna grow wings
The hope for change and growth towards a better future
A chemical reaction
The unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of emotions
Hysterical and useless
The feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to cope
You know, you know where you are with
The familiarity and predictability of disappointment
Floor collapsing, falling
The sudden and unexpected nature of failure and disappointment
Bouncing back and one day, I am gonna grow wings
The resilience and hope for overcoming disappointment and growing towards a better future
Let down
The feeling of disappointment and betrayal
Let down
The feeling of disappointment and betrayal
Let down
The feeling of disappointment and betrayal
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'brien, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind