(fitter happier)
Radiohead Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

More productive
Comfortable
Not drinking too much
Regular exercise at the gym (3 days a week)
Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries
At ease
Eating well (no more microwave dinners and saturated fats)
A patient better driver
A safer car (baby smiling in back seat)
Sleeping well (no bad dreams)
No paranoia
Careful to all animals (never washing spiders down the plughole)
Keep in contact with old friends (enjoy a drink now and then)
Will frequently check credit at (moral) bank (hole in wall)
Favours for favours
Fond but not in love
Charity standing orders
On sundays ring road supermarket
(no killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants)
Car wash (also on sundays)
No longer afraid of the dark
Or midday shadows
Nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate
Nothing so childish
At a better pace
Slower and more calculated
No chance of escape
Now self-employed
Concerned (but powerless)
An empowered and informed member of society (pragmatism not idealism)
Will not cry in public
Less chance of illness
Tires that grip in the wet (shot of baby strapped in back seat)
A good memory
Still cries at a good film
Still kisses with saliva
No longer empty and frantic
Like a cat
Tied to a stick
That's driven into
Frozen winter shit (the ability to laugh at weakness)
Calm
Fitter, healthier and more productive
A pig




In a cage
On antibiotics

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Radiohead's song "Fitter Happier" can be interpreted as an advertisement for the perfect life. The words describe a person who is comfortable, productive, and healthy. They exercise regularly, eat well, and sleep soundly. They have good relationships with their coworkers and old friends. They are careful with animals and check their moral bank often. They are not afraid of the dark or shadows and have a good memory. They cry at good films and kiss with saliva, but do not cry in public. The person is now self-employed and informed, but concerned and powerless. They have tires that grip in the wet and a good car. They are calm, fit, healthy, and productive. However, the final line of the song reveals a disturbing truth: the person is "a pig in a cage on antibiotics."


This line suggests that despite the appearance of a perfect life, the person is trapped and medicated. The song critiques the ideal of a perfect, productive life, suggesting that it is impossible and unsustainable.


Line by Line Meaning

More productive
Being more effective and efficient with one's work and time.


Comfortable
Feeling relaxed and content.


Not drinking too much
Limiting one's alcohol consumption to a moderate level.


Regular exercise at the gym (3 days a week)
Consistently going to the gym to maintain physical health.


Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries
Improving relationships with colleagues at work.


At ease
Feeling relaxed and comfortable in one's environment.


Eating well (no more microwave dinners and saturated fats)
Making healthier food choices and avoiding processed and fast foods.


A patient better driver
Being more calm and attentive while driving.


A safer car (baby smiling in back seat)
Having a car that is safe for passengers, especially children.


Sleeping well (no bad dreams)
Having restful and peaceful sleep without having nightmares.


No paranoia
Not experiencing irrational and fearful thoughts.


Careful to all animals (never washing spiders down the plughole)
Being mindful of all creatures and not harming them unnecessarily.


Keep in contact with old friends (enjoy a drink now and then)
Staying connected with friends from the past by occasionally socializing.


Will frequently check credit at (moral) bank (hole in wall)
Being responsible with personal finances by regularly monitoring bank account activity.


Favours for favours
Doing good deeds for others in exchange for their help.


Fond but not in love
Having positive feelings for someone, but not being romantically involved.


Charity standing orders
Setting up automatic donations to charitable organizations.


On sundays ring road supermarket
Doing grocery shopping at a large chain store on Sunday.


(no killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants)
Not intentionally killing insects or animals.


Car wash (also on sundays)
Cleaning and maintaining one's vehicle, often on a weekend.


No longer afraid of the dark
Not feeling scared or anxious when in the dark.


Or midday shadows
Not being intimidated or unnerved by shadows.


Nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate
Avoiding immature behaviors and rash decisions.


Nothing so childish
Not engaging in childish or immature actions.


At a better pace
Moving at a more reasonable and steady speed.


Slower and more calculated
Taking more time to think and plan.


No chance of escape
Being committed and invested in one's responsibilities.


Now self-employed
Working for oneself rather than for a company.


Concerned (but powerless)
Worried about certain issues, but without the ability to do much to solve them.


An empowered and informed member of society (pragmatism not idealism)
Having knowledge and understanding of social issues and taking realistic and practical approaches to addressing them.


Will not cry in public
Avoiding excessive emotional displays in public spaces.


Less chance of illness
Reducing the likelihood of getting sick.


Tires that grip in the wet (shot of baby strapped in back seat)
Having car tires that are effective in wet weather conditions to ensure the safety of any passengers.


A good memory
Having a strong ability to recall details and information.


Still cries at a good film
Being moved emotionally by a well-made movie.


Still kisses with saliva
Maintaining a passionate and intimate relationship.


No longer empty and frantic
Feeling more fulfilled and less stressed in life.


Like a cat
Being agile, attentive, and alert.


Tied to a stick
Feeling restricted and constrained by certain situations or obligations.


That's driven into
Being pushed into inescapable, uncomfortable circumstances.


Frozen winter shit (the ability to laugh at weakness)
Being able to find humor and levity in tough or unpleasant situations.


Calm
Feeling relaxed, composed and free of agitation.


Fitter, healthier and more productive
Being in better physical and emotional condition, which can lead to greater overall productivity.


A pig
A metaphor for being held captive or trapped.


In a cage
Being trapped in a situation with limited freedom.


On antibiotics
Taking medication to treat an illness or infection.




Contributed by Christian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@mostafahossaintuhin

When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fuckin' special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doin' here?
I don't belong here
I don't care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
So fuckin' special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doin' here?
I don't belong here
She's running out the door (run)
She's running out
She run, run, run, run,
Run...
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doin' here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here



@victorleonardovergara2994

Lyrics:
When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fuckin' special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doin' here?
I don't belong here
I don't care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
So fuckin' special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doin' here?
I don't belong here
She's running out the door (run)
She's running out
She run, run, run, run,
Run...
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doin' here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here



@kimbonguno4741

LYRICS:
When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fucking special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

Oh, oh

She's running out again
She's running out
She run, run, run, run
Run

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here



@AbsolutelyPlasmadic

A constant reminder of our inner most fears.
Decades have passed and the answer to this problem hasn’t been found.
“Is it me? Am I the one perpetuating this?
Am I the odd one out?”
Everyone will find the answer, that’s how it’s been decided.

You are the odd one out, and for that you are so very special.

If you were here before, if you are here right now, and if you come here later.
None of that matters anymore.

Because you are here, and you are loved.



All comments from YouTube:

@kirbyclapsyou3159

This song makes my depression have a depresion

@jeezradz

Haha

@dippyfresh8155

That’s what alternative rock does to you. It’s great. This song represents my brain.

@garebomb6629

Fuzzygamer moment

@BoredPanda69420

Maybe your depression will kill itself. This will make life easier right?

Edit: I’m going to be therapist, people already adore me and I’m great. (I’m kidding)

@JonathanRaulGomez

@@BoredPanda69420 Hahaha well thought-out 🙌

745 More Replies...

@lavaga4909

"I dont care if it hurts, I wanna have control, I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul. I want you to notice when Im not around." big same

@johnrebel9539

YouTube recommending this at the end of video for "What's up" by 4 non blondes. 😟 I was feeling positive.... Briefly... Ah wtf their both great songs! 🤟🇨🇦

@FideosFrios

this part is so beautiful, is my favorite part D:

@NaturallyGifted77

Yes!

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