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)
04 Exit Music
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The drying of your tears
Today, we escape, we escape
Pack and get dressed
Before your father hears us
Before all hell breaks loose
Don't lose your nerve
Breathe, keep breathing
I can't do this alone
Sing us a song
A song to keep us warm
There's such a chill, such a chill
And you can laugh
A spineless laugh
We hope your rules and wisdom choke you
Now we are one in everlasting peace
We hope that you choke, that you choke
We hope that you choke, that you choke
We hope that you choke, that you choke
The lyrics to Radiohead’s song Exit Music are deeply emotional and represent a longing for freedom from oppressive forces. The song starts with a powerful command to the listener to “wake from your sleep” and escape from a difficult and perhaps limiting situation. The imagery of drying tears implies that the listener has been struggling for some time, and that the time has come to break free.
The next verse imparts a sense of urgency, indicating that the escape must happen before it is too late. The line “Before your father hears us, before all hell breaks loose” suggests that there may be negative consequences for leaving, and portrays a situation of fear and danger. The repetition of “breathe, keep breathing” is a reminder to stay calm and focused in the midst of chaos and it also suggests that this is not just an escape, but a journey towards something new and hopeful.
The following stanza is a plea for warmth and comfort during this transition. The request to “sing us a song, a song to keep us warm” brings to mind the idea of finding solace in music and the human connection that it brings. The line “there’s such a chill, such a chill” could be interpreted as a physical chill, but it could also represent the emotional coldness of the situation. The final lines are a powerful expression of defiance, indicating that the oppressive forces will not be missed, and that the escape has led to unity and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake from your sleep
Rise from a state of being unaware and passive
The drying of your tears
Stop crying and being emotional
Today, we escape, we escape
Today we finally leave and break free from oppression
Pack and get dressed
Get ready to leave quickly and discretely
Before your father hears us
Before the authority figure finds out about our plan
Before all hell breaks loose
Before chaos and destruction happen
Breathe, keep breathing
Remain calm and keep taking deep breaths to manage stress
Don't lose your nerve
Don't become too scared or anxious to carry out the plan
I can't do this alone
I need your help and support to carry out the plan
Sing us a song
Perform an act that will keep us feeling calm and positive
A song to keep us warm
Something that will bring us comfort and a sense of security
There's such a chill, such a chill
There is an overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty
And you can laugh
Make yourself appear non-threatening by feigning happiness
A spineless laugh
A laugh that lacks conviction and sincerity
We hope your rules and wisdom choke you
The oppressive authority figure will face the consequences of their own actions
Now we are one in everlasting peace
After escaping, we will experience a sense of unity and calm that lasts forever
We hope that you choke, that you choke
A phrase expressing disdain for the person or group that caused the suffering
We hope that you choke, that you choke
A repetition of the phrase expressing the intensity of emotion
We hope that you choke, that you choke
A final repetition of the phrase emphasizing the hope for the oppressors to suffer
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
@charlesmckenzie8872
Wake.. from your sleep
The drying of your tears
Today we escape, we escape
Pack.. and get dressed
Before your father hears us
Before all hell breaks loose
Breathe, keep breathing
Don't lose your nerve
Breathe, keep breathing
I can't do this alone
Sing.. us a song
A song to keep us warm
There's such a chill, such a chill
You can laugh
A spineless laugh
We hope your rules and wisdom choke you
Now we are one in everlasting peace
We hope that you choke, that you choke
We hope that you choke, that you choke
We hope that you choke, that you choke
@nickhaas8925
If someone doesn't appreciate how musically gifted Radiohead is they're tone deaf. One of their best.
@RoelBogers
Now we are one, in everlasting peace. (2:10) Sends chills up my spine, every. goddamn. time. Beautiful!!! Thom Yorke is a Demi god, I'd buy him a beer!
@UchihaUzumakiPro
I cannot explain how beautiful this song is. It is too, my best friend (without sounding weird) as when I wake from my annoying nightmares, this is what calms me down.
@headlessblunderful
Wake... from your sleep The drying of your tears Today.. we escape We escape. Pack and get dressed Before your father hears us Before.. all hell.. breaks loose. Breathe... keep breathing Don’t lose.. your nerve. Breathe... keep breathing I can’t do this.. alone. Sing us a song A song to keep us warm There’s such a chill Such a chill. You can laugh A spineless laugh We hope that your rules and wisdom choke you Now we are one In everlasting peace We hope that you choke.. that you choke
@Squatolo
i'm ashamed of myself... i've always underestimated this song... but now i'm proud to announce that this song has a new fan! long live radiohead
@jenniferjjjx
This song is so painfully beautiful. This is one of my favourite songs ever along with ''Fragile Bones(Feels Like Home)'' by Ali Murray. If you love this song, you should check it out. Both of these songs made me cry...
@Kevtb87
The older I get the more music like this blows me away. When I was younger I loved it but it's only as the years pass that I truly understand the talent and genius that goes into making something like this from scratch. It's beautiful.
@pinkyluv310
This song is my favorite. It just doesn't get any better than this.
@miedosfera
¿Cómo se pueden describir tantas emociones en una canción?
@stonersid
im a hard critic, of course i have musical bias , same as us all, but this track/album was just unbelievable, the power is overpowering and the sentiment is painfully beautiful, id like to say its impossibly good, but as its been done i guess it wasnt impossible! i can compare this to floyd, king crimson, led zep, tangerine dream, the stones, and whatever other band, and it stands well and puffs out its chest!! simply awesome