Yet another song (like "My Iron Lung") that reflects Thom's obsession with … Read Full Bio ↴Yet another song (like "My Iron Lung") that reflects Thom's obsession with poor health, this is perhaps a product of the physical tribulations of touring. The song looks at Thom's fear of growing old and becoming physically incapacitated. Thom: "We recorded this about four times before we got it right. The original had the ending going on for about a minute and a half, which was something Jonny got from The Fall."

Bones
Radiohead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't want to be crippled and cracked
Shoulders and wrists, knees and back
Ground to dust and ash
Crawling on all fours
When you've got to feel it in your bones
When you've got to feel it in your bones
Now I can't climb the stairs
Pieces missing everywhere

Prozak painkillers
When you've got to feel it in your bones
When you've got to feel it in your bones
I used to fly like Peter Pan
All the children flew when I touched their hands
You see, you've got to feel it in your bones

You see, you've got to feel it in your bones
Ah-ah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Radiohead's song Bones seem to be a reflection on the physical toll that life can take on our bodies. The singer is expressing a desire to avoid becoming crippled and cracked, with their shoulders, wrists, knees and back ground to dust and ash. The imagery of crawling on all fours adds to a sense of helplessness and weakness.

The lyrics emphasize the importance of feeling something deeply in our bones, as opposed to a superficial understanding or external validation. The singer laments that they now require painkillers, as they are unable to climb stairs and feel that pieces of themselves are missing. The reference to Prozak specifically highlights the toll that mental health issues can also take on our physical bodies.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't want to be crippled and cracked
The singer does not want to be physically disabled and broken.

Shoulders and wrists, knees and back
The parts of the body that are commonly injured and prone to weakness or pain are listed.

Ground to dust and ash
The singer feels like they are being worn down to nothing or destroyed.

Crawling on all fours
The artist feels like they are reduced to a helpless state, like an animal struggling to move.

When you've got to feel it in your bones
The importance of a deep internal feeling is emphasized.

Now I can't climb the stairs
The singer's physical limitations are highlighted by a common, everyday task they can no longer perform.

Pieces missing everywhere
The artist feels like they are fragmented, missing important parts of themselves.

Prozak painkillers
The artist may be relying on medication to manage their pain or emotional state.

When you've got to feel it in your bones
The importance of a deep internal feeling is emphasized.

I used to fly like Peter Pan
The artist recalls a time when they felt young, strong, and free.

All the children flew when I touched their hands
The singer felt like they were a source of joy and inspiration for others, particularly children.

You see, you've got to feel it in your bones
The importance of a deep internal feeling is emphasized.

Ah-ah
A brief, non-lyrical vocalization that may serve as a transition or moment of reflection.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, 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

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