The song's title "2 + 2 = 5" recalls the symbol of unreality from George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the book, inhabitants of an authoritarian future state are made to engage in doublethink, replacing their own conscience and beliefs with those imposed from above. At the end of the novel, the protagonist's individuality is demolished, as he avows that two and two are, in fact, five. The song contains similar inaccuracies including January bringing April showers.
With lyrics like "All hail to the thief, but I'm not" and "Don't question my authority" there have been repeated suggestions from many musical critics that the song is based on the controversial election of George W. Bush in 2000. The band have strenuously denied this, saying in one interview, "It would be too easy for us to insult George Bush".
The song reached number 15 on the UK singles chart.
The first part of the song is in a 7/4 time signature, which switches to 4/4 about 1 minute 22 seconds in (after the words "Two and two always makes five...").
At the beginning of the song, the listener hears guitarist Jonny Greenwood plugging his guitar in and saying "We're on", with lead vocalist Thom Yorke replying "That's a nice way to start, Jonny...".
2 + 2 = 5
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's a nice way to start, Johnny
Are you such a dreamer
To put the world to rights?
I'll stay home forever
Where two and two always makes a five
Sandbag and hide
January has April showers
And two and two always makes a five
It's the devil's way now
There is no way out
You can scream and you can shout
It is too late now
Because you have not been
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
You have not been
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
You have not been
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
You have not been
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
Payin' attention
I try to sing along
But I get it all wrong
'Cause I'm not
'Cause I'm not
I swat 'em like flies
But like flies, the bugs keep coming back
Not, but I'm not
All hail to the thief
All hail to the thief
But I'm not
But I'm not
But I'm not
But I'm not
Don't question my authority or put me in the box
'Cause I'm not
'Cause I'm not
Oh, go and tell the king that the sky is falling in
But it's not
But it's not
But it's not
Maybe not
Maybe not
The lyrics of Radiohead's "2 + 2 = 5" are an expression of the band's distrust towards authorities and the media. The song heavily relies on imagery and metaphor to convey its message. In the first verse, the lyrics "Are you such a dreamer to put the world to rights?" speaks to the idea of people who try to make changes in society but often end up disillusioned. The line "I'll stay home forever where two and two always makes a five" represents the idea of living in a world where two plus two can equal five, meaning that reality can be manipulated and distorted to meet specific needs or support a particular narrative.
The second verse reflects the idea that truth can be twisted to serve power. The lines "It's the devil's way now, there is no way out, you can scream and you can shout, it is too late now" refers to the idea that the people in power have created their version of reality, and there is no way of stopping it. The chorus "Payin' attention" is repeated several times, and it's a call for people to pay attention to what's happening around them and not live in apathy or ignorance.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you such a dreamer
Do you see the world with an idealistic view?
To put the world to rights
To believe you can fix all of the world's problems
I'll stay home forever
I will avoid the issues of the outside world
Where two and two always makes a five
In my safe space, the rules of the real world don't apply
I'll lay down the tracks
I will create something meaningful
Sandbag and hide
I will protect it and keep it hidden
January has April showers
Life doesn't always make sense
And two and two always makes a five
In my art, I can make my own rules
It's the devil's way now
The world is more sinister than ever
There is no way out
We are trapped in this reality
You can scream and you can shout
We feel powerless against it all
It is too late now
We are too far gone to change anything
Because you're not there
Your absence affects everything
Payin' attention
Noticing and caring about the world around us
Yeah I feel it, I needed attention
I want others to acknowledge my existence
Yeah I need it, I needed attention
I crave attention to give me purpose
Yeah I love it, the attention
Being the center of attention validates me
Soon oh
Hope for something better
I try to sing along
I try to fit in with society's standards
But the music's all wrong
But I can't seem to align with it
'Cause I'm not
Because I am different
I'll swallow up flies?
I'll deal with things I'd rather avoid
Back and hide
Retreat to my isolated world
Oh hail to the thief
People in power are often corrupt
Don't question my authority or put me in the box
Don't try to limit or control me
'Cause I'm not
Because I won't conform
Oh go up to the king, and the sky is falling in
The world doesn't always make sense, even in positions of power
But it's not
But sometimes things aren't as bad as they seem
Maybe not
Maybe there's still hope
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 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