Codex
Radiohead愀 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jump off the end
Into a clear lake
No one around
Just dragonflies
Fantasize
No one gets hurt
Slide your hand
Jump off the end
The water's clear
And innocent
The water's clear
And innocent
In the song Codex by Radiohead, the lyrics are deep and ethereal. The opening line, "slight of hand," creates an image of deception and misdirection. This is followed by an instruction to "jump off the end" into a "clear lake." The imagery here is one of suicide, and the water represents either death or a final release from the troubles of the world. The absence of people, except for the dragonflies, suggests that this is a very personal choice which is not influenced by the views or reactions of others. The line "fantasize no one gets hurt" implies that the person is not trying to cause pain to anyone else in their decision.
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of innocence, specifically with the line "you've done nothing wrong." This suggests that the person who is taking their own life may feel guilty about something or feel that they are too much of a burden on others, but in reality, they have not actually done anything wrong. The repetition of "slide your hand/jump off the end" serves to reinforce the idea that this is a deliberate choice made with full awareness of the consequences. The final line of the song, "the water's clear and innocent," suggests that the person is seeking a peaceful, painless end.
Line by Line Meaning
Slight of hand
Deceive or trick someone with quick finger movements
Jump off the end
Take a leap of faith and dive into the unknown
Into a clear lake
Submerge oneself into a pure and serene body of water
No one around
Solitude and seclusion from others
Just dragonflies
Only accompanied by fragile and transient flying insects
Fantasize
Immerse oneself into a world of make-believe and illusions
No one gets hurt
Actions do not cause any harm or suffering to others
You've done nothing wrong
Assurance that feelings of guilt or responsibility are unwarranted
Slide your hand
Maneuver one's hand in a covert manner
The water's clear
The liquid is transparent and lucid
And innocent
Free from guilt, corruption, or wrongdoing
The water's clear
The liquid is transparent and lucid
And innocent
Free from guilt, corruption, or wrongdoing
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