04. how to disappear completely
Radiohead Lyrics


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That there
That's not me
I go
Where I please

I walk through walls
I float down the Liffey
I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

In a little while
I'll be gone
The moment's already passed
Yeah it's gone
And I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

Strobe lights and blown speakers
Fireworks and hurricanes
I'm not here
I'm not here
This isn't happening




I'm not here
I'm not here

Overall Meaning

"How to Disappear Completely" by Radiohead can be interpreted in many ways, but a common theme is the desire to escape from reality. The opening lines "That there, that's not me…I'm not here, this isn't happening" suggest that the singer feels detached from their surroundings and wants to disconnect from their own identity. The following lines about walking through walls and floating down the Liffey add to the feeling of dissociation, as if the singer is not bound by physical limitations.


As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly distressed. The repetition of "I'm not here, this isn't happening" suggests that they are trying to convince themselves that what is happening around them is not real. The use of vivid imagery such as strobe lights and blown speakers, fireworks, and hurricanes add to the sense of chaos and disorientation.


Overall, "How to Disappear Completely" can be seen as an examination of the desire to escape from the pressures of everyday life, but also the fear that comes with feeling disconnected from reality.


Line by Line Meaning

That there
I am referring to something that is not me


That's not me
I am not what you see


I go
I make my own choices


Where I please
I have the freedom to be wherever I want


I walk through walls
I am capable of overcoming obstacles with ease


I float down the Liffey
I move effortlessly like a river


I'm not here
I am detached from reality


This isn't happening
I am in my own world, detached from the present


I'm not here
I am not physically present


In a little while
Soon


I'll be gone
I will leave and not return


The moment's already passed
The opportunity has already been missed


Yeah it's gone
The moment cannot be regained


And I'm not here
I am mentally and emotionally disconnected


This isn't happening
I am not experiencing reality as it is


I'm not here
I am not present in reality


Strobe lights and blown speakers
Chaotic and intense environment


Fireworks and hurricanes
Dazzling yet destructive events


I'm not here
I am disconnected from the surroundings


This isn't happening
I am experiencing a distorted perception


I'm not here
I am absent from reality




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP SELWAY, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS YORKE, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE

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