Radiohead signed to EMI in 1991 and released their debut album, Pablo Honey, in 1993; their debut single, "Creep", became a worldwide hit. Radiohead's popularity and critical standing rose with the release of The Bends in 1995. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), brought them international fame; noted for its complex production and themes of modern alienation, it is acclaimed as a landmark record and one of the best albums in popular music.
Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A (2000), marked a dramatic change in style, incorporating influences from electronic music, jazz, classical music and krautrock. Though Kid A divided listeners, it later attracted wide acclaim. It was followed by Amnesiac (2001), recorded in the same sessions. Hail to the Thief (2003), with lyrics addressing the War on Terror, was Radiohead's final album for EMI.
Radiohead self-released their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), as a download for which customers could set their own price, to critical and chart success. Their eighth album, The King of Limbs (2011), an exploration of rhythm, was developed using extensive looping and sampling. A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) prominently featured Jonny Greenwood's orchestral arrangements. Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Selway, and O'Brien have released solo albums; in 2021, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood debuted a new band, the Smile.
By 2011, Radiohead had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Their awards include six Grammy Awards and four Ivor Novello Awards, and they hold five Mercury Prize nominations, the most of any act. Seven Radiohead singles have reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart: "Creep" (1992), "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" (1996), "Paranoid Android" (1997), "Karma Police" (1997), "No Surprises" (1998), "Pyramid Song" (2001), and "There There" (2003). "Creep" and "Nude" (2008) reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone named Radiohead one of the 100 greatest artists of all time, and Rolling Stone readers voted them the second-best artist of the 2000s. Five Radiohead albums have been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time lists. Radiohead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead
Studio albums
Pablo Honey (1993)
The Bends (1995)
OK Computer (1997)
Kid A (2000)
Amnesiac (2001)
Hail to the Thief (2003)
In Rainbows (2007)
The King of Limbs (2011)
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)
Climbing Up The Walls
Radiohead Lyrics
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That keeps your toys in the basement
And if you get too far inside
You'll only see my reflection
It's always best when the covers up
I am the pick in the ice
Do not cry out or hit the alarm
And either way you turn
I'll be there
Open up your skull
I'll be there
Climbing up the walls
It's always best when the light is off
It's always better on the outside
Fifteen blows to the back of your head
Fifteen blows to your mind
So lock the kids up safe tonight
Shut the eyes in the cupboard
I've got the smell of a local man
Who's got the loneliest feeling
That either way he turns
I'll be there
Open up your skull
I'll be there
Climbing up the walls
Climbing up the walls
Climbing up the walls
The lyrics to Radiohead's "Climbing up the Walls" are quite ominous and evoke a sense of unease. The song appears to be from the perspective of a disturbed protagonist who may be stalking or torturing someone, possibly a child. The line "I am the key to the lock in your house that keeps your toys in the basement" suggests that the singer has access to a locked area where they keep their victim's belongings. There is a sense of control and power in the singer's words, as they seem to enjoy playing games with their victim.
The idea of darkness and being hidden is repeated throughout the song, with the lyric "It's always best when the covers up" and "It's always best when the light is off." This could signify the singer's preference for secrecy and their desire to remain unseen. The line "Fifteen blows to the back of your head, fifteen blows to your mind" adds to the violent and disturbing undertones of the song.
The chorus, "And either way you turn, I'll be there, open up your skull, I'll be there, climbing up the walls" is particularly haunting. This could suggest that the singer not only has physical access to their victim but also has a psychological hold on them, to the point that they are always in their thoughts.
Overall, "Climbing up the Walls" is a dark and unsettling song that portrays a disturbed mind with violent tendencies.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the key to the lock in your house
I am the one who holds the power in this relationship and can control your actions.
That keeps your toys in the basement
I am the one who restricts your freedom and keeps you locked away like a child.
And if you get too far inside
If you try to challenge my control, you will be met with resistance.
You'll only see my reflection
Any attempts to assert yourself will only show you that I am the one in power.
It's always best when the covers up
It's better to keep this control and manipulation hidden and secret from the outside world.
I am the pick in the ice
I am the one who can break through your defenses and control your every move.
Do not cry out or hit the alarm
Any attempts to resist or draw attention to this situation will be met with further harm.
You know we're friends till we die
You are stuck with me until the very end and there is no escaping my grasp.
And either way you turn
No matter what you do or where you go, I will still be in control.
I'll be there
My presence and influence will always be felt.
Open up your skull
My influence and control goes beyond just your physical actions - I am in your mind too.
Climbing up the walls
This situation is causing you distress and making you feel trapped, like you're climbing the walls to escape.
It's always best when the light is off
It's easier to keep these dark and manipulative actions hidden in the darkness.
It's always better on the outside
You long for freedom and to escape this controlling situation.
Fifteen blows to the back of your head
You feel like you are being attacked and hurt repeatedly, even if it's just mentally and emotionally.
Fifteen blows to your mind
These experiences are taking a toll on your mental health and well-being.
So lock the kids up safe tonight
I will continue restricting your freedom and controlling your movements, even to the point of harming innocent children.
Shut the eyes in the cupboard
I am suffocating you to the point that you feel trapped, like you're locked away in a dark and scary closet.
I've got the smell of a local man
I am in control of your entire environment and even the people around you, making you feel trapped and helpless.
Who's got the loneliest feeling
Despite my efforts to control you and your surroundings, you still feel isolated and alone.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'Brien, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind