"The Wheel" is most likely based on past events in Kosovo, as it makes references to a poem she wrote in her book The Hollow of the Hand. As well as the fact that 28,000 international troops were sent to invade Kosovo in 1990.
The song features a call-and-response lyric about the disappearance of 28,000 people “lost upon a revolving wheel… of metal chairs”.
The Wheel
PJ Harvey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hung on chains, squealing
Four little children flying out
A blind man sings in Arabic
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
Now you see them, now you don't
Children vanish 'hind vehicle
Now you see them, now you don't
Faces, limbs, a bouncing skull
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that's left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A tableau of the missing
Tied to the government building
Eight thousand sun-bleached photographs
Faded with the roses
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that's left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade
The opening lines of PJ Harvey's The Wheel are both haunting and disturbing. The image of a revolving wheel of metal chairs, hung on chains and squealing, conjures up a fairground ride, but the children flying out of the chairs suggest something altogether more sinister. The notion of a blind man singing in Arabic adds to the sense of unease, creating an impression of chaos and confusion.
The repeated refrain of "Hey little children, don't disappear" adds to the sense of loss and despair, as if the singer is powerless to stop the events unfolding before her. The line "I heard it was twenty-eight thousand" reinforces the idea that something terrible has happened, something so catastrophic that it has become a subject of rumor and speculation.
As the song progresses, the images become more graphic and distressing, with faces and limbs appearing and disappearing, and a tableau of the missing tied to a government building. The faded photographs serve as a poignant reminder of what has been lost, while the roses suggest a fading memory, a sense of things passing into history.
As a whole, The Wheel can be interpreted as a lament for the victims of war, especially children. The image of the revolving wheel may be a metaphor for the relentless cycle of violence and destruction, while the blind man singing in Arabic may be a symbol of cultural diversity and the shared humanity that exists beneath the surface of conflict. Throughout the song, Harvey's voice is understated and mournful, lending weight to the sense of tragedy that permeates the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
A revolving wheel of metal chairs
A circular piece of equipment with seats made of metal
Hung on chains, squealing
The wheel is attached to chains that make an unpleasant noise
Four little children flying out
Children are thrown from the wheel
A blind man sings in Arabic
A man who cannot see sings in a language from the Middle East
Hey little children don't disappear
Warning to children to not vanish
(I heard it was twenty-eighth thousand)
An estimated number of people who have gone missing
Lost upon a revolving wheel
People have disappeared on the wheel
Faces, limbs, a bouncing skull
Body parts are visible
All that's left after a year
Only remnants are left after a year
A faded face, the trace of an ear
Only a faint image of a person's face and ear remain
A tableau of the missing
A display of those who have disappeared
Tied to the government building
The display is attached to a government facility
Eight thousand sun-bleached photographs
Thousands of pictures have been exposed to sun and lost color
Faded with the roses
The photographs have been hung with flowers that have also faded
And watch them fade out
Repeated refrain warning of the fading away of those who have gone missing
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Polly Harvey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Никита Квейсдуд
Lyrics
a revolving wheel of metal chairs
Hung on chains, squealing
Four little children flying out
A blind man sings in Arabic
Hey little children don’t disappear
(I heard it was 28,000)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was 28,000)
Now you see them, now you don’t
Children vanish ‘hind vehicle
Now you see them, now you don’t
Faces, limbs, a bouncing skull
Hey little children don’t disappear
(I heard it was 28,000)
All that’s left after a year
(I heard it was 28,000)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was 28,000)
A tableau of the missing
Tied to the government building
8,000 sun-bleached photographs
Faded with the roses
Hey little children don’t disappear
(I heard it was 28,000)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was 28,000)
All that’s left after a year
(I heard it was 28,000)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was 28,000)
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out...
Cesar Betancourt Canizales
A revolving wheel of metal chairs
Hung on chains, squealing
Four little children flying out
A blind man sings in Arabic
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
Now you see them, now you don't
Children vanish 'hind vehicle
Now you see them, now you don't
Faces, limbs, a bouncing skull
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that's left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A tableau of the missing
Tied to the government building
Eight thousand sun-bleached photographs
Faded with the roses
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that's left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
And watch them fade out (x20)
And watch them fade
AnixMafaldix
"A revolving wheel of metal chairs
Hung on chains, squealing
Four little children flying out
A blind man sings in Arabic
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
Now you see them, now you don't
Children vanish 'hind vehicle
Now you see them, now you don't
Faces, limbs, a bouncing skull
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that's left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A tableau of the missing
Tied to the government building
Eight thousand sun-bleached photographs
Faded with the roses
Hey little children don't disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that's left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out..."
Lucinda M Lourenço
A revolving wheel of metal chairs
Hung on chains, squealing
Four little children flying out
A blind man sings in Arabic
Hey little children don’t disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
Now you see them, now you don’t
Children vanish ‘hind vehicle
Now you see them, now you don’t
Faces, limbs, a bouncing skull
Hey little children don’t disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that’s left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A tableau of the missing
Tied to the government building
Eight thousand sun-bleached photographs
Faded with the roses
Hey little children don’t disappear
(I heard it was twenty-eigth thousand)
Lost upon a revolving wheel
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
All that’s left after a year
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
A faded face, the trace of an ear
(I heard it was twenty-eight thousand)
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade out
And watch them fade
Compositores: Polly Harvey
Letras de The Wheel © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Going Behind
I was awoken at 5am this morning by this terrific riff and beautiful voice on the radio. This song is an instant classic. Utterly brilliant.
Exodus Velo
on the radio, LOL
Charles Knox
Just shreds me each time I listen... The intro, the chorus... the 28,000. Thank God for PJ. As a ballad decrying loss, this is one of the most powerful I have ever heard. And while we watch them fade out, we blink away another bit of our own humanity.
Jim Bailey
"The Glorious Land" on Let England Shake shreds me every time I hear it. Perhaps my favorite anti-war song ever.
Jacob George
She's never made a bad album even after all these years still going strong!!
treblephone
I'll buy everything she does forever.
Exodus Velo
this one was certainly the first bad one. The new one, also bad ;-)
Mascotas Perdidas SV
@Exodus Velo How do you know if the new one hasn't been released?
cosetilo5
She is an amazing woman. She observes the world and then brilliant songs like this one makes us think.
Satie Satie
PJ is gritty, intelligent and real. Such a rare talent. Her new album is gonna be another highlight in my music collection.