The song's lyrics, which are sung by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, are cryptic and abstract, dealing with themes of nature, rebirth, and transformation. The song's sound and lyrics have been praised for their experimental and avant-garde nature, which is typical of Radiohead's approach to music.
Bloom
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A universal sigh
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive
So why does this still hurt?
Don't blow your mind with why
I'm moving out of orbit
Turning in somersaults
(A giant turtle's eyes)
A giant turtle's eyes
(And jellyfish float by)
And jellyfish float by
(It's what keeps me alive)
In Radiohead's song Bloom, the lyrics are figurative and the meaning is open to interpretation. The song is possibly about the cycle of life and nature's beauty. The opening line, "Open your mouth wide, a universal sigh," could mean that the singer wants the listener to take in the wide range of emotions that come with life. While the ocean blooms, the singer finds this beauty to be what keeps him alive. However, the line "So why does this still hurt? Don't blow your mind with why" suggests that even though there is beauty in the world, the singer is still suffering from the pain of life.
The chorus of the song is where the imagery becomes more surreal. The singer sings about moving out of orbit and turning in somersaults. These could be interpreted as the constant motion of life and how one must keep moving to survive. The line about the giant turtle's eyes could be a metaphor for the passage of time or the wisdom that comes with age. The jellyfish could represent the fleeting moments of beauty that someone experiences in life.
Overall, the song Bloom is meant to be mysterious and open to interpretation. It may be impossible to fully understand the meaning of the lyrics, but the emotions and imagery are powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Open your mouth wide
Be receptive to the world around you and remain open-minded.
A universal sigh
We are all connected by the same struggles and emotions, regardless of our individual circumstances.
And while the ocean blooms
Nature continues to thrive and evolve, reminding us of the resilience of life.
It's what keeps me alive
The beauty and vitality of the world sustains and inspires us to keep going.
So why does this still hurt?
Despite the wonder and goodness of the world, we still experience pain and suffering, and we struggle to understand why.
Don't blow your mind with why
Sometimes, the answers to life's mysteries are beyond our comprehension and we need to accept that we may never fully understand them.
I'm moving out of orbit
The singer is feeling detached from their usual way of life and routine, seeking something new and transformative.
Turning in somersaults
The artist is undergoing a physical and emotional transformation, turning their life upside down and taking risks.
A giant turtle's eyes
The artist is seeing the world from a new perspective, with a sense of awe and wonderment.
And jellyfish float by
The artist is witnessing the strange and beautiful movements of nature, which have a calming and grounding effect on them.
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
@sejuk07
Open your mouth wide
The universal sigh
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive
So why does it still hurt?
Don't blow your mind with why
I'm moving out of orbit
Turning in somersaults
A giant turtle's eyes
Jellyfish swim by
@RPTW73
EndoTM Thanx for your reply. Of course every interpretation has is own POV, but i have this clear picture of a surfer enter the sea near the sunset and this lyrics describe that feeling:
Open your mouth wide (as you dive into the ocean)
The universal sigh (it's such a great moment)
And while the ocean blooms ( = waves breaking)
It's what keeps me alive
So why does it still hurt? (when you try to forget something so hard)
Don't blow your mind with why (you do if you let it go)
I'm moving out of orbit (because it's so good)
Turning in somersaults (wipe out's)
A giant turtle's eyes
Jellyfish swim by
@arsmoriendish
No one talks about how fucking amazing Bloom's bassline is.
@Khild565
+Nathan Joyce it glues all of the chaos together.
@Frankster8039
+Nathan Joyce This whole song is so fucking amazing !!
@SuperiFox
+Nathan Joyce They (Maybe Thom specifically) said in an interview that it wasn't really a song to them until Colin found the bassline for it. Prior to that it was just more of a sketch.... Colin's basslines, the diversity of Phil's drumming styles and Ed's knack for soundscapes/sound design do not get enough credit, everyone's all like "thom and jonny thom and jonny" and it's bullshit, the 5 of them are vital to what Radiohead is. Er, 6 if you count Nigel which ya really fucking should
@Ataensic
+Nathan Joyce No one talks about how Ed never supplies the forward echo backing vocals for the second verse.
@karlboman
+Nathan Joyce It was actually the first thing on the whole album that stuck with me on the first couple of listens. You could even call it my gateway into this extremely dense record! Colin does not get the credit he deserves as a contemporary rock (and beyond) bassist!
@nolanr7679
This has to be one of the most difficult songs to perform live like this. The way Thom's delay plays into itself like that is brilliant. And that's just one part. There are four other ppl doing completely different but equally intricate parts. When you add the horns it's like 6 completely different songs in one. My mind would literally crumble.
@enielfblerta428
It's like one hair away from complete chaos, but again and again it cristallizes into a new motif that makes perfect sense. Incredible.
@ThePopbanks007
Figuratively.
@cristian19perez93
King of limbs is criminally underrated.