Burn the Witch
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cheer at the gallows
This is a round up
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing a song on the jukebox that goes
Burn the witch
We know where you live
Red crosses on wooden doors
And if you float you burn
Loose talk around tables
Abandon all reason
Avoid all eye contact
Do not react
Shoot the messengers
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing the song of sixpence that goes
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
We know where you live
The Radiohead song Burn the Witch is a piece of political commentary on the issue of collective fear and intolerance. It seems like the song depicts an unsettling portrait of a society where people are easily manipulated into turning against one another. The lines "Stay in the shadows, cheer at the gallows," suggest that people are complicit in the persecution of others by standing idly by rather than taking a stand against it. "This is a round-up" implies that fear has created a mob mentality where people are taking action against individuals that are labeled as "the other."
The lyrics "Red crosses on wooden doors, and if you float you burn" suggest that the victims of this witch hunt are identified through superstitions and are judged or punished harshly. The urgency and fear in the statement "This is a low flying panic attack" reflects the chaos and confusion caused by this collective fear. The line "Avoid all eye contact, do not react, shoot the messengers" probably refers to the paranoia that has set in, where anyone who questions the witch hunt or speaks out against it is seen as a threat.
The repeated chant of "Burn the witch, burn the witch, we know where you live" signifies the power of this fear and how easily it can inspire acts of violence against others. Ultimately, the song serves as a warning against the dangers of intolerance and blind groupthink.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay in the shadows
Hide from danger and avoid being seen
Cheer at the gallows
Enjoy watching the executions of others
This is a round up
People are being rounded up and arrested
This is a low flying panic attack
The situation is stressful and scary
Sing a song on the jukebox that goes
Distract yourself from the fear and danger
Burn the witch
Blame and punish someone for the situation
Burn the witch
Continue to blame and punish someone
We know where you live
People are being watched and monitored
Red crosses on wooden doors
Homes are being marked and identified
And if you float you burn
Even if you are innocent, you will be punished
Loose talk around tables
People gossip and spread rumors
Abandon all reason
There is no logic or justification for the situation
Avoid all eye contact
Don't draw unwanted attention to yourself
Do not react
Remain calm and don't show fear
Shoot the messengers
Blame those who try to bring attention to the problem
Sing the song of sixpence that goes
Continue to distract yourself from the fear and danger
Burn the witch
Keep looking for someone to blame and punish
Burn the witch
Continue to punish and blame that person
We know where you live
People are aware of your location and actions
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Edward O'Brien, Philip Selway, Thom Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AggelosV
1st listen: Good, but meh...
2nd listen: It's not that bad actually.
3rd listen: I think I start to like it a bit.
4th listen: This is actually better than I thought.
5th listen: This is good!
6th listen: I like it a lot!
7th listen: I love it!
....
100th listen: When this album is going to be released already!!!
That's Radiohead for ya!
@hironigaishi
Stay in the shadows
Cheer at the gallows
This is a round-up
This is a low-flying panic attack
Sing the song on the jukebox that goes
[Chorus]
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
[Verse 2]
Red crosses on wooden doors
If you float, you burn
Loose talk around tables
Abandon all reason
Avoid all eye contact
Do not react
Shoot the messengers
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing the song of sixpence that goes
[Chorus]
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
We know where you live
@annabambamjerky
00:48 a reference to Lord of the Flies - The speared boar seen on the red building. The first red flag for what is to come.
00:56 the second red flag, concealing the truth. This actually reminds me of a biblical reference The Passover. This is when the doors of the israelites were painted with the blood of a lamb in order for the angel of death to passover. Ex. 12 v 8: "They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire". The inspector is literally a lamb to the slaughter.
1:06: Invites us to look at ourselves more harshly. It's a hard task to do.
1:16: When we do we realise that nothing is really as it seems. Especially if someone is trying to make you see things from their point of view. The children act like they're having fun but it's a dangerous make-shift teeter totter built over a pond.
1:22: 'Justice' based on moral/religious grounds. When religion and morality differ from region to region - what does it mean for justice to be served? Is it merely a (pagan) ceremony that looks/feels good to the crowds? It's become a spectacle to impress the world rather than unveil the truth. e.g.: Osama Bin Laden, Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein all killings seen as 'right' and 'just' in the eyes of americans; guided by the media, leaders, american morals, religious beliefs etc.
1:43: Another instance where the truth (a savagely slaughtered animal) is hidden, literally in a sheet of pastry. Can you swallow the truth?
1:55: Does embellishing the truth (with flowers) take away from it's reality? A touch on capital punishment. Jay Carney stated that the US has a fundamental duty to carry out executions humanely. However, doesn't the act of capital punishment itself fall short of humane standards.
The more the man sees through their tricks or questions their logic, the more the the mayor sees him as a threat to his power and desperately tries to persuade and move him along through the town.
2:13: Welcome to corporate america! I'd like to hear some suggestions on this one. But I think it has something to do with how the working class, just trying to make a living, are sheltered and closed off from the realities of capitalism and how the top level guys (ceo's, government MPs, presidents) are actually running the establishments of the country. They're blinded by chasing the dollar and the guy who has something to offer the big guys gets to lead the pack of little guys - no matter how unqualified they may be.
3:04 The wicker man - a film inspired by David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual and centres on the visit of Police Sergeant Neil Howie to the isolated island of Summerisle. Howie, a devout Christian, is appalled to find that the inhabitants of the island have abandoned Christianity and now practise a form of Celtic paganism (wiki). Again, playing on morality in different societies (the end of The Wicker Man is also important here but I don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't watched it). The inspector finds himself staring at the truth boldly in the face but still he overlooks it. How many signs does it take until you go with your gut?
3:33 Does going with the crowd and turning your back on the truth makes everything better, more scenic, right?
The style in animation is brilliant for two reasons: 1. It's based on Trumpton, a BBC show from the 60s. Could Donald TRUMPton be the next mayor/leader of the crowd? And how much of the truth will he embellish with flowers? 2. The use of playdough annimation. Playdough is malleable and can be moulded into anything you want it to be, much like the truth.
Does anyone know what the meaning of Jobe and the tomatoes is? Is this another biblical reference to Job (pronounced Jobe)? There is one interesting thing from the bible about tomatoes Corinthians 15v 38: "You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don't look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different." Again the true nature of the tomato is revealed through time and a little digging ;)
@thepilgrimintheunkown8217
Stay in the shadows
Cheer at the gallows
This is a round up
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing a song on the jukebox that goes
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
Red crosses on wooden doors
And if you float you burn
Loose talk around tables
Abandon all reason
Avoid all eye contact
Do not react
Shoot the messengers
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing the song of sixpence that goes
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
We know where you live
@charlienoakes8877
LYRICS:
Stay in the shadows
Cheer at the gallows
This is a round up
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing a song on the jukebox that goes
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
Red crosses on wooden doors
If you float you burn
Loose talk around tables
Abandon all reason
Avoid all eye contact
Do not react
Shoot the messengers
This is a low flying panic attack
Sing a song on a sixpence that goes
Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
We know where you live
@pitterbookoo8848
Darkest bob the builder episode ever
@TSPH1992
And I thought Wallace and Gromit couldn't get any darker
@TSPH1992
***** ikr
@djhappyyyyy
Or postman pat ;)
@anaraquelx3
AHAHAHAAHAHA
@janellrosa1707
djhappyyyyy you mini
@knenda1
Violin is a perfect rock instrument.
@jasonbarbush4991
this music has been influenced by classical by genre derivative.
@keithklassen5320
I wonder if any of these are real violins. Synth sounds these days are quite something.
@knenda1
@@keithklassen5320 These are real violines and cellos, i can smell :))