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)
07 Dollars & Cents
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be constructive
There are weapons we can use
Be constructive with your blues
Even when it's only warnings
Even when you talk the war games
Why don't you quiet down? (maybe I want to live in the children's land and you know maybe, maybe I)
Why don't you quiet down? (maybe I'll wander the promised land I want peace and honesty)
Why don't you quiet down? (I want to live in the promised land and maybe wander the children's land)
Quiet down (yeah, and there, there we can free)
You don't live in a business world and
You never go out and you never stay
We won our goals in a liberal world
Living in times when I could stand it, babe
All over, baby's crying
It'll all be, baby, I can see out of here
All over the planet's dead
All over the planet, so let me out of here
All over the, all over the, all over the, all over the
We are the dollars and cents and the pounds and pence (quiet down)
And the mark and the yen, and yeah
We're gonna crack your little souls (why don't you quiet down?)
We're gonna crack your little souls (why don't you quiet down?)
We are the dollars and cents and the pounds and pence (why don't you quiet down?)
And the pounds and pence, and yeah
We're gonna crack your little souls
Crack your little souls
We are the dollars and cents
The song "Dollars & Cents" by Radiohead may sound like a cacophonic outcry, but it is actually a sharp commentary on the violence of nations and the power structures that guide them. The lyrics suggest that there is a constant dialogue about war and conflict, but people are often not constructive in their approach to handling these issues. The singer implores everyone to be constructive in their blues and use weapons that work towards peace and honesty. The repetition of "quiet down" suggests the need for silence and contemplation rather than constant chatter, propaganda, and agitation.
The lyrics also reference the promises of a "promised land" and a "children's land," an idealized place of freedom and innocence. However, the singer seems to have lost faith in such a utopia, as he laments the crying babies and the dead planet. The phrase "we are the dollars and cents" may refer to the money-oriented world that puts economic growth ahead of environmental sustainability and social justice. In the end, the song suggests that we are all at the mercy of the powerful forces that control our world, and that we need to find ways to resist, crack, and transform those forces.
Line by Line Meaning
There are many things to talk about
Let's focus on discussing constructive ideas
Be constructive
Let's have a productive conversation
There are weapons we can use
There are effective tools at our disposal
Be constructive with your blues
Even when feeling down, let's stay positive and proactive
Even when it's only warnings
Even when the situation seems bleak
Even when you talk the war games
Even when conflict seems inevitable
Oh why don't you quiet down?
Maybe I want peace and honesty
Why don't you quiet down?
Maybe I want to live in a peaceful environment and be childlike
Quiet down
We can be free in this peaceful environment
You don't live in a business world and
You don't always have to focus on the financials
You never go out and you never stay
You seem to be stagnant and uncommitted
We won our goals in a liberal world
Our goals have been achieved because of progressive values
Living in times when I could stand it, babe
I can withstand this difficult situation
All over, baby's crying
Pain and suffering are ubiquitous
It'll all be, baby, I can see out of here
Relief is in sight
All over the planet's dead
The world is corrupt and lifeless
All over the planet, so let me out of here
I want to leave this oppressive world
We are the dollars and cents and the pounds and pence
We are overly focused on financial matters
And the mark and the yen, and yeah
And other currencies as well
We're gonna crack your little souls
We will challenge your beliefs and values
Crack your little souls
We aim to break down your ego and sense of superiority
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
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind