Big Ideas
Radiohead Lyrics


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Don't get any big ideas
They're not gonna happen

You paint yourself white
And fill up with noise
But there'll be something missing

Now that you've found it, it's gone
Now that you feel it, you don't
You've gone off the rails

So don't get any big ideas
They're not gonna happen





You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Big Ideas" by Radiohead seem to be a warning against getting too carried away with your aspirations and desires. The song suggests that while it's natural to dream big and to want to achieve great things, it's important to approach these aspirations with a sense of realism and caution. The opening lines of the song, "Don't get any big ideas / They're not gonna happen," serve as a sort of mantra for this theme.


The lines "You paint yourself white / And fill up with noise / But there'll be something missing" suggest that while we may try to project an image of ourselves that is pure and perfect, there will always be something missing or imperfect about us. The song goes on to suggest that this is just a part of being human and that we shouldn't beat ourselves up over it.


The final lines of the song, "You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking," seem to be a warning against indulging in our darkest desires and impulses. The song suggests that while it can be tempting to pursue our most forbidden desires, doing so can lead us down a dark path.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't get any big ideas
Don't expect too much from life


They're not gonna happen
Your high expectations will not come true


You paint yourself white
You try to look perfect and clean


And fill up with noise
You try to be loud but lack depth and meaning


But there'll be something missing
Despite your efforts, you'll still feel incomplete


Now that you've found it, it's gone
When you finally get what you want, it slips away


Now that you feel it, you don't
As soon as you begin to enjoy something, you lose interest in it


You've gone off the rails
You've lost your way and become erratic


You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking
Your immoral thoughts will lead you to suffer the consequences




Contributed by Anna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Rafeah bujang kipli

Don't get any big ideas
They're not going to happen
You paint yourself white and feel the noise
But there'll be something missing

And now that you found it, it's gone
Now that you feel it, you don't
You've gone off the rails

She stands stark naked and she beckons you to bed
Don't go, you'll only want to come back again

So don't get any big ideas
They're not going to happen
You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking

And now that you found it, it's gone
And now that you feel it, you don't
You've gone off the rails



Ben & Pete

Sounds like the original but sped up (especially the chord progressions with vocals). I play it like-
Verse 1:
[G#m] Don't get any [G#] big ideas
[A] They're [E] not gonna [C#m] happen [B]

Verse 2: same structure until-
[C#m]...Something missing [into B]
And now that you found [G#m] it
It's [A] gone
Now that you feel [G#m] it you [A] don't
You've gone off the rails [C#m][A]
*Repeat verse 3 with [G#m, A, E, C#m, B]
Chorus-
[G#m] You'll go to Hell
[G#] for what your [A] dirty [E] mind
is [C#m] thinking.

This is for the album lyrics tho. I really hope this helps!!



All comments from YouTube:

Alex'

This version is incredible. You can hear everything, the despair in Thom's voice, he's able to find his strength in the weaknesses of the human mind and transforms it in music ... More than an inspiration, he is the voice of millions of people's darkness

Danilo Cornejo

😢

Coffee12341

Imagine being in the audience and hearing this for the first time.

FrancescaBakewell

+Coffee12341 I'd wet myself and pass out.

bowling-green

+Coffee12341 it would be something unreal and fantastic. truly no words to describe

Paul Griffiths

+Francis Bakewell Hi Francis. xD

JohnnyCagePro

you like, where ma fake mother fuckin plasteek tree'

orion khan

I did hear ”Big Ideas” from Radiohead live well before ”Nude” was released... it was frelling amazing to hear live for the first time, especially with the Hammond B3 organ (with a Leslie case) they had that tour. I’ve always preferred ”Big Ideas” for the expanded lyrics... if any song needed needed more lines...

6 More Replies...

Heke

the vocalizing at 2:30 gets me every time :'^( his range is absolutely beautiful

Ó Cearbhaill

Yes, very beautiful

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