Radiohead signed to EMI in 1991 and released their debut album, Pablo Honey, in 1993; their debut single, "Creep", became a worldwide hit. Radiohead's popularity and critical standing rose with the release of The Bends in 1995. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), brought them international fame; noted for its complex production and themes of modern alienation, it is acclaimed as a landmark record and one of the best albums in popular music.
Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A (2000), marked a dramatic change in style, incorporating influences from electronic music, jazz, classical music and krautrock. Though Kid A divided listeners, it later attracted wide acclaim. It was followed by Amnesiac (2001), recorded in the same sessions. Hail to the Thief (2003), with lyrics addressing the War on Terror, was Radiohead's final album for EMI.
Radiohead self-released their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), as a download for which customers could set their own price, to critical and chart success. Their eighth album, The King of Limbs (2011), an exploration of rhythm, was developed using extensive looping and sampling. A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) prominently featured Jonny Greenwood's orchestral arrangements. Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Selway, and O'Brien have released solo albums; in 2021, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood debuted a new band, the Smile.
By 2011, Radiohead had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Their awards include six Grammy Awards and four Ivor Novello Awards, and they hold five Mercury Prize nominations, the most of any act. Seven Radiohead singles have reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart: "Creep" (1992), "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" (1996), "Paranoid Android" (1997), "Karma Police" (1997), "No Surprises" (1998), "Pyramid Song" (2001), and "There There" (2003). "Creep" and "Nude" (2008) reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone named Radiohead one of the 100 greatest artists of all time, and Rolling Stone readers voted them the second-best artist of the 2000s. Five Radiohead albums have been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time lists. Radiohead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead
Studio albums
Pablo Honey (1993)
The Bends (1995)
OK Computer (1997)
Kid A (2000)
Amnesiac (2001)
Hail to the Thief (2003)
In Rainbows (2007)
The King of Limbs (2011)
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)
02 Sit Down. Stand Up.
Radiohead Lyrics
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Sit down, stand up
Walk into the jaws of hell
(Sit down)
Walk into the jaws of hell
(Stand up)
Anytime
Anytime
(Stand up)
Sit down, stand up
Sit down
We can wipe you out anytime
(Stand up)
We can wipe you out
(Sit down)
Anytime
Anytime
Stand up
Sit down
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The lyrics to Radiohead's song Sit Down Stand Up are cryptic, repetitive, and filled with metaphorical imagery. The song begins with the repeated words "Sit down, stand up" which could be interpreted as a call to action, urging the listener to take a stand and assert themselves. The next line, "Walk into the jaws of hell", adds a sense of urgency and danger to the call to action, suggesting that it is time for the listener to face their fears and take risks.
The repetition of "anytime" emphasizes the message that the listener has the power and agency to act on their own terms. The lines "We can wipe you out anytime" suggest a kind of looming threat, perhaps a warning to those who are complacent or not taking action. The abrupt shifts between "stand up" and "sit down" can be seen as a reflection of the ups and downs of life, the shifting nature of power dynamics, and the need for flexibility and adaptability.
The chorus of the song is based entirely on the word "raindrops", which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the small moments of beauty and hope that can be found even during dark times. The repetition of this word reinforces the cyclical nature of life, and the need to find beauty and resilience in the face of adversity.
Overall, the lyrics to Sit Down Stand Up encourage the listener to take action, to face their fears, and to find strength and beauty even in the most difficult of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Sit down, stand up
The song starts with the contradictory phrases "sit down, stand up" which represent the internal conflict and indecision faced by the singer.
Walk into the jaws of hell (Sit down)
Despite the fear and danger, the singer decides to take the risky path and confronts their inner demons.
Walk into the jaws of hell (Stand up)
The singer decides to take a stand and face the challenges of life instead of backing down in fear.
Anytime (Sit down)
The artist questions the inaction and passivity of the people around them and urges them to take a stance.
Anytime (Stand up)
The artist is confident in their ability to take action and make a difference, even in challenging situations.
Sit down, stand up, Sit down
The repetition of the opening line expresses the cyclical nature of the singer's thoughts and urges them to break the pattern.
We can wipe you out anytime (Stand up)
The singer warns those who have become complacent and stagnant that they are not invincible and can be overthrown at any moment.
We can wipe you out (Sit down)
The artist reminds themselves that they have the power to affect change and bring down oppressive structures if they stand together and take action.
The raindrops
The repeated phrase 'the raindrops' represents the inevitability and sameness of life, with each drop being insignificant and inconsequential.
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
Grant Huling
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