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)
Cut A Hole
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Superhero powers
Burst out of the sound
And I bought you flowers
You just say the word
I could wish she comes
With a long and winning handsome smile
Wish we could connect
Off the diving board
Blend into the light
Down the cable lines
Roll onto the earth
Reforming on the wind
Two places at once
Taste the air with you
Undo all the ties
Wish that I could flick on all those lights
Lift this all away
See that stretchy smile go
Right across your face
Cut a hole
Cut a hole
Cut a hole.
The lyrics of Radiohead's song, Cut A Hole, are open to varied interpretations, but the song appears to be a plea for a deeper connection with a loved one or a significant other. The first line expresses the desire to transcend the limitations of time and space and connect beyond the digital realm. The singer wants to come out of the phone and be physically present with the loved one, perhaps even acquiring superhero powers to achieve that feat. The mention of flowers suggests a romantic and thoughtful gesture that the singer is willing to make. The phrase 'wish she comes' could refer to an external factor that is preventing the loved one's physical presence or an unrequited love situation.
The subsequent lines evoke a sense of longing and a craving for a deeper emotional connection. The singer wants to 'step into the void' and take a leap of faith with the loved one, diving into the unknown together. The lyrics further suggest that the singer wants to blend into the light and connect on a spiritual or transcendental level with the loved one, defying the boundaries that constrain the human experience. The mention of 'reforming on the wind' could refer to a desire to break free from mundane existence and embrace an element of unpredictability and freedom.
The lines 'two places at once, taste the air with you, undo all the ties' communicate a sense of longing for an intimate and all-encompassing bond that transcends the physical realm. The idea of wanting to 'flick on all those lights' and 'lift this all away' implies a desire to alleviate the pain and disconnection that the singer feels and share a moment of unmitigated joy with the loved one. The song culminates in the chorus of 'cut a hole,' repeated thrice, which could be interpreted as a plea to break through the barriers that prevent an intimate connection and experience true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish that I could come out of your phone
Expressing a desire to have the ability to teleport through technology to be with the person on the other side of the phone.
Superhero powers
Desiring the ability to have superhuman powers that would enable one to be with their loved one instantly.
Burst out of the sound
Describing a fantasy of being able to physically emerge from sound as an embodiment of music.
And I bought you flowers
A simple act of kindness or an apology for not being able to physically be present with the person.
You just say the word
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to be with the person, and they're waiting for confirmation that the feeling is mutual.
I could wish she comes
Continuing to express the desire for the ability to teleport to be with their loved one without limitation.
With a long and winning handsome smile
Describing the feeling of elation and joy that comes with being with the person you love.
Wish we could connect
A desire for a deeper connection and the ability to be physically present with the person.
Step into the void
A willingness to take chances and embrace the unknown as long as it means being with the person they love.
Off the diving board
A metaphor for taking a leap of faith and going all-in, even if the outcome is uncertain.
Blend into the light
Desiring to merge and become one with the person, embodying the positive energy and aura they give off.
Down the cable lines
A reference to the physical limitations of technology and the distance it creates between two people emotionally and physically.
Roll onto the earth
Expressing the desire to be grounded and present in the physical world with the person.
Reforming on the wind
The possibility to be carried and moved by the positive and impactful energy caused by the person.
Two places at once
Desiring to be with the person physically and emotionally at the same time.
Taste the air with you
A wish to experience and feel the world with the person, sharing experiences on a deeper level than just verbal communication allows.
Undo all the ties
Expressing the desire to remove any physical or emotional restraints or limitations that are keeping two people apart.
Wish that I could flick on all those lights
A powerful metaphor for wanting to bring light and positivity to the person's life as if turning on a light switch and illuminating their surroundings.
Lift this all away
Expressing the desire to take away any pain or burden the person is experiencing, and to share that load.
See that stretchy smile go
Describing the feeling of happiness and satisfaction that comes from making the person smile authentically.
Right across your face
The physical manifestation of genuine joy and happiness as conveyed through a smile.
Cut a hole
An abrupt shift in tone, expressing a new desire to cut through any remaining barriers or obstacles in order to be with the person.
Cut a hole
Repeating the desire for a direct path to be with the person without any limitations.
Cut a hole.
Ending the song with the same phrase, emphasizing the urgency and intensity of the desire to be with the person they love.
Contributed by Bailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.