Videotape
Radiohead䠀 Lyrics

The lyrics of Radiohead’s song Videotape paint a haunting picture of the singer contemplating his own mortality. As he finds himself at the pearly gates, he reassures his loved ones that they need not be afraid, as he knows that the day he has just lived has been the most perfect he has ever seen. The lyrics then take a darker turn, with the mention of Mephistopheles - a demon from German folklore. The devil-like figure is described as being just beneath the singer and reaching up to grab him, hinting at the idea of death as something sinister and inevitable.

The second verse seems to be a reflection on the past, with the singer cherishing memories that are captured on a videotape. The colors of the tape - red, blue, and green - are repeated several times, creating a hypnotic effect. The final verse is a farewell message, but while the singer admits that he can’t say goodbye in person, he reassures his listeners that he is still talking to them. The repetition of the phrase “on videotape” creates a sense of finality, as if everything that has happened in the song is now permanently recorded and preserved.

Overall, the lyrics of Videotape are a meditation on the fleeting nature of life, and the inevitability of death. While the song is hauntingly beautiful, it is also undeniably sad, and carries a sense of resignation that is both moving and melancholy.