Ripcord
Radiohead䠀 Lyrics


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Soul destroyed with clever toys for little boys
It's inevitable, inevitable, it's a soul destroyed
You feel it till you're dry
You feel it till you've had enough
And you don't understand
No ripcord, no ripcord
No ripcord, no ripcord
Aeroplane, do I mean what I mean
Oh it's inevitable, inevitable, oh aeroplane

A thousand miles an hour
On politics and power
That you don't understand

No ripcord, no ripcord
No, no, no ripcord, no ripcord

La la la la

The answer to your prayers
We'll drop you anywhere





No ripcord, no ripcord
No ripcord, no, no, no ripcord yeah

Overall Meaning

Radiohead's Ripcord is a song that delves into the theme of destruction of one's soul with the aid of technology. The opening lines "Soul destroyed with clever toys for little boys" serve as an insightful metaphor for the negative effects of technology on one's soul. It highlights how technology with its entourage of smart devices, intelligent toys, and addictive games, in the name of making life more comfortable and fun, may end up causing irreparable damage to one's psyche. The lines "It's inevitable, inevitable, it's a soul destroyed" shed light on the inexorable nature of this process of soul destruction. The song further emphasizes the point that technology can strip one of genuine human experience by causing addiction and dependency, which leads to a life where you "feel it till you're dry, You feel it till you've had enough."


The lyrics also address politicians' use of technology to exert power over people, evident from the lines "A thousand miles an hour On politics and power That you don't understand." This line hints at the ubiquitous nature of technology and its widespread use in governing people. Technology has made it possible to reach people in ways that were not possible before, and this is precisely what politicians capitalize on. The refrain "No ripcord, no ripcord" repeats several times in the song's chorus, indicating that there is no going back once the soul has been destroyed. The plane might fly too high and too fast, and the only thing left is to endure the ride.


Line by Line Meaning

Soul destroyed with clever toys for little boys
Technology and modern gadgets may lead to the destruction of one's soul, especially in men who are often fascinated by such things.


It's inevitable, inevitable, it's a soul destroyed
The destruction of one's soul is a certainty and can happen to anyone, regardless of whether they're aware of it or not.


You feel it till you're dry
The feeling of being soulless is something one continues to experience till the point of exhaustion and emptiness.


You feel it till you've had enough
One may experience such a feeling constantly until they reach a breaking point and can no longer tolerate it.


And you don't understand
The feeling of being soulless and empty can be overwhelming and hard to comprehend.


No ripcord, no ripcord
There is no escape from this feeling of emptiness and destruction of the soul.


Aeroplane, do I mean what I mean
The lyrics may have a hidden meaning or double entendre that the singer is questioning whether they truly understand or not.


Oh it's inevitable, inevitable, oh aeroplane
The events or circumstances described earlier are inevitable, and the reference to the aeroplane may be alluding to the idea of being trapped or unable to escape.


A thousand miles an hour
The world and society move at an incredibly fast pace and can often be overwhelming and disorienting.


On politics and power
The focus on politics and power can lead to a loss of touch with one's soul and values.


That you don't understand
The politics and power dynamics are complex and not easily comprehended by many.


The answer to your prayers
People may look for solutions to their problems in all the wrong places.


We'll drop you anywhere
People may be taken for a ride and exploited in their search for solutions.


No ripcord, no ripcord
Again, there is no escape from the traps and pitfalls of life.


No ripcord, no, no, no ripcord yeah
Reinforcing the idea that there is no easy way out, and people must face their problems head-on.




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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