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)
05-Let Down
Radiohead Lyrics
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Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles
When it comes it's so, so, disappointing
Let down and hanging around
Let down and hanging around
Shell smashed, juices flowing
Wings twitch, legs are going
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel
One day, I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Let down
Let down
Let down
You know, you know where you are with
You know where you are with
Floor collapsing, falling
Bouncing back and one day, I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction (you know where you are)
Hysterical and useless (you know where you are)
Hysterical and (you know where you are)
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
The lyrics of Radiohead's song Letdown are a subtle critique of the modern world, and more specifically, the false promises of progress and technology. The opening lines describe the endless cycle of transportation that characterizes modern life in industrialized societies - motorways, trams, planes, and so on. The act of starting and stopping, taking off and landing, reflects the stops and starts of progress and the illusion of forward movement to which people cling. The emptiest of feelings is the disillusionment that follows, as people realize that the promised utopia of technological progress is just out of reach. Disappointment and disillusionment lead to people seeking comfort in alcohol, but that too turns out to be disappointing.
The second verse continues the theme of disillusionment but takes a more biological turn. The image of a bug being crushed into the ground is jarring, but it represents the fragility of life and the feeling of being powerless in the face of technological progress. The image of wings twitching and legs going refers to the struggle for survival, but also to the desire to escape the confines of the physical world. The lines "Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel/ One day, I am gonna grow wings" suggest that sentimentality is a trap, and that true progress requires a chemical reaction - something fundamental that changes the nature of reality.
Overall, the song reflects the feeling of being let down by the promises of progress and technology, and the sense that true progress may require a radical reimagining of the world and ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Transport, motorways and tramlines
The mundane routine of daily life; travel, roads and infrastructure.
Starting and then stopping
The ups and downs of life; moments of momentum followed by stagnation.
Taking off and landing
The cyclical nature of life and its progression, followed by regression.
The emptiest of feelings
A sense of disappointment or disillusionment with the world.
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles
Coping mechanisms for those trying to escape their disappointment and dissatisfaction.
When it comes it's so, so, disappointing
Anticipation can lead to heightened expectations, which can ultimately result in a letdown.
Let down and hanging around
The feeling of being stuck in a rut, without direction or progress.
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Feeling small and insignificant in comparison to the world's problems.
Shell smashed, juices flowing
A metaphor for a breakdown or emotional vulnerability.
Wings twitch, legs are going
A desire for change or growth; the feeling of being on the cusp of a breakthrough.
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel
Advice not to glorify the past or overly romanticize memories, as it inevitably leads to disappointment.
One day, I am gonna grow wings
A symbol of hope or optimism for the future; the idea of personal transformation or ascension.
A chemical reaction
A scientific explanation for the emotions and changes we experience in life.
Hysterical and useless
The feeling of being overwhelmed or helpless in difficult situations.
You know, you know where you are with
The familiarity or predictability of certain processes or situations.
Floor collapsing, falling
A sudden and unexpected change or loss of stability.
Bouncing back and one day, I am gonna grow wings
The resilience to overcome hardship and the hope for a better future.
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