Electioneering
Radiohead Lyrics

Ha, ha, ha

Riot shields
Voodoo economics
It's life, it's life
It's just business
Cattle prods and the I.M.F.
I trust I can rely on your vote

When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet

Lyrics © Royalty Network, 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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01Airbag4:44

02Paranoid Android6:23

03Subterranean Homesick Alien4:27

04Exit Music (for a Film)4:24

PT3M50S

09Climbing Up the Walls4:45

10No Surprises3:48

11Lucky4:19

12The Tourist5:24

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

nome

29w↑58

I will stop
I will stop at nothing
Say the right things
When electioneering
I trust I can rely on your vote

When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
Ha, ha, ha

Riot shields
Voodoo economics
It's life, it's life
It's just business
Cattle prods and the I.M.F.
I trust I can rely on your vote

When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet

ASPEN_FOREST

28w↑2

Cabeza de Radio

30w↑17

I will stop
I will stop at nothing
Say the right things
When electioneering
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
Ha, ha, ha
Riot shields
Voodoo economics
It's life, it's life
It's just business
Cattle prods and the I.M.F.
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet

Kirk Wolfe

43w↑1

Airbag - Beetlebum
Paranoid Android - Country Sad Ballad Man
Subterranean Homesick Alien - Strange News From Another Star
Exit Music - Death of a Party
Let Down - You're So Great
Karma Police - Look Inside America
Fitter Happier - Theme From Retro and Chinese Bombs
Electioneering - Song 2 and Movin' On
Climbing Up The Walls - I'm Just a Killer For Your Love
No Surprises - On Your Own
Lucky and The Tourist - Essex Dogs

All comments from YouTube:

WAYCNF

29w↑185

in a cage

on antibiotics

~~5 seconds later~~

it's ROCKING TIME!

Josiah Stout

15w↑1

Yup

betelgeuse

18w↑2

lmaooo that happened to me

Monky

41w↑305

Only Radiohead fans would hate a song for being too happy

Cebelihle Mbuyisa

16w

Is it happy though?

Snorkel Dawg

16w

This album is about the future

Vipa Kat

16w↑2

Lol naw. And it's not even "happy", it just has an energetic tone.

Carl Potter

16w

Cure fans are a thing.

DoopZee

20w↑2

Great song

5 More Replies...

lunars eve

50w↑287

I like this song, idk what’s up with everybody

Crash

19w

My favourite on the album. Guitar guy, i guess.

Alexander Larkin

28w

Hits to close to home with the upcoming election man

David Foy

32w

@nalim lattarai ok I bought the album in 1997 and I never heard of bad feedback on Electioneering but clearly negative views have developed since then; unfairly so. I agree with paperbag_writing that it is a great song.

nalim lattarai

32w↑1

David Foy that’s a lie people say it’s the worst on okc

NNJ

36w↑5

Slaps

2 More Replies...

Benjamin Devlin

40w↑48

The guitar during the chorus is just awesome, especially that little lick at 1:09, it perfectly compliments the chorus melody. Same with the verse guitar from 0:38 to 0:45, just genius from Jonny Greenwood. Even though this song sounds pretty rock-y and that's why people think it doesn't fit on OK Computer but honestly I think it adds just the perfect amount of energy to the album so it's not too drab (not that the songs are drab, they're all great, but hearing them one after another without some sort of energy boost would probably get pretty depressing.) Having Electioneering right there in the middle is just perfect. People don't give this song enough credit, they pass it off as just a lazy grunge song. I couldn't disagree more, the melodies are super catchy, the guitar work is some of Jonny's best, and Thom's vocals and lyrics are some of his most sing-along-y and just plain fun to listen to, just the swagger and charisma with which he delivers the lines is great. I think this is one of Radiohead's most special, unique, and underrated songs and it's one of the only songs (paranoid android and this) that I liked on OKC on my first listen, which led me to go back and listen again and now it's one of my favorite albums of all time. So, in short, this song is just great and is an essential component of the masterpiece that is OK Computer.
(This comment was just originally supposed to be about how I like that one guitar part during the chorus but that reminded me of the guitar part during the verse and then I remembered the injustices this song faces and I felt like I needed to defend its honor)

David W.

45w↑127

This song feels more relevant these days than in the late 90s. The world is so saturated with politics and campaigns now.

Robert Meadows the Gamecat that wouldn't die

16w↑1

It's the same. Just that nobody had a smartphone in their pocket, in the 90s.

Stephen. S

26w↑1

I haven't listened to this album for years and this song came into my head the other day 🤷🏻‍♂️

Brock

26w

Yeah

ASPEN_FOREST

27w↑6

and "the president will cheat to win" is just the norm now

Hai

31w↑12

its always been like that. we've jst become older and can see what thom saw

1 More Replies...

Ashton Miller

49w↑181

how much cowbell do you want in this song?
radiohead: yes

Ashton Miller

20w↑1

@Kirberus thanks

Kirberus

20w↑1

nice pfp

Doctor Clean

47w↑10

i want more cowbell

nome

29w↑58

Niko Laakso

22w↑5

@ASPEN_FOREST thanks I thought I would never find the lyrics

ASPEN_FOREST

28w↑2

Zack Zallie

30w↑85

Underrated song on the album and also the heaviest one. The cowbell is the medicine here.

life sentence sux so does playz

11w

I agree have since I first listened to this album back in early 90's. I am in cahoots with you !!!!

Bronghus Phidalski

21w

climbing up the walls is pretty heavy, especially the scream at the end

Tusk ACT4 chumimiin

22w↑1

we meet again Mikasa

Zack Zallie

30w↑2

@Mihajlo Markovic I love em. Grown up with Radiohead fits the phase of my depression. Nostalgic to come back here again.

Mihajlo Markovic

30w↑6

You are commenting on every radiohead song I listen to. Respect man.
I like your profile pic also.

SnifSnaf

21w↑11

"I go forwards, you go backwards, and somewhere we will meet"
Politicians described in one sentence

Daniel Bautista

16w↑9

IT'S ELECTION DAY! Say the right things when electioneering, guys.

Distort the Order

38w↑106

this is the most underrated radiohead song ever.

Dill

11w

also black star

F M.

11w↑1

Scatterbrain

Arturo Prat

11w↑1

Hello Palo Alto

Nyquil Severe

32w↑7

I think this and Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Sandra Tello

1y↑91

Those guitars drive me crazy! 😍 What a song!!! 🙌🏻

Andy Petrovich

5y↑47

My favorite cut off of OK Computer.

minamim

1y↑65

I'm not sure why I like this so much. I think maybe the same reason I like Jigsaw Falling Into Place , the chorus is just way too good.

minamim

25w↑2

@Ella it DOES

Ella

25w↑7

Jigsaw falling into place SLAPS

mmtz

29w↑21

Every country can relate to the lyrics lol

Cabeza de Radio

30w↑17

I will stop
I will stop at nothing
Say the right things
When electioneering
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
Ha, ha, ha
Riot shields
Voodoo economics
It's life, it's life
It's just business
Cattle prods and the I.M.F.
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet

caccaminguscia

48w↑59

I can clearly detect the smiths, Johnny Marr's guitar sound in this track

Maximiliano Silva

22w

@AJ no caxai na pao

Cliche Guevara

43w↑2

It's that Rickenbacker in the beginning.

caccaminguscia

43w↑9

@AJ it's just a matter of taste

duck in pond

28w↑15

russian facebook ads be like:

mmtz

30w↑16

This is the international anthem

Allan Doudine

51w↑35

This is a banger

HamorBeeThente

41w↑12

70s rock music with Nirvana's Vocals, top 👌🏻

GentleBen

1y↑51

this song reminds me of the oldest and newest songs from Radiohead

KingdomOfFandoms

41w↑4

Yeah this is so pablo honey-ish

meh

16w↑5

today's the day.

SameOldFitUp

26w↑5

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams

mmtz

39w↑14

This song slaps... The guitars are amazing

Babylon Central

13w

Slaps...and slams.

Planet Xtreme

1y↑28

Motorstorm arctic edge fans unite 🤘

Brecktor

37w

THNKS!

Angel Martinez

1y↑360

I can see why a lot of Radiohead fans don’t like this song, the rest of OK Computer is just kind of dour and very similar in mood and then this song just comes in and BOOM, guitar riffs and crazy drum fills!

It’s like watching Schindler’s List and then halfway through you get the beach scene from Saving Private Ryan

Crash

19w

Guitar or death. What shall it be?

Joe Mojo

20w

Good example angel

Adam Wheeler

34w

Id say the transition from Fitter Happier to Electioneering is one of the greatest moments in the album.

Fernando Gutierrez Estudillo

35w

AND EXACTLY THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT A NECESSARY SONG

Ben Ruegg

38w

What Radiohead fans are you referring too? This song slaps hard! Its incredible!

26 More Replies...

shane mc cormack

43w↑15

My favourite radiohead song probably it ties the rest of the album together brilliantly

PlasmaScape

21w↑5

Why tf are there so many dislikes?

Mazy

16w↑1

Maybe its butthurt people that still have faith in elections.

nuh uh

20w↑1

Probably because of the tonal shift from "Fitter Happier" to this track.

Sonic Gamer

16w↑7

Election day

Oliver Rainer

16w↑4

The day has come

alex angulo rojas

1y↑43

Moooooore Cowbell

alex angulo rojas

29w↑5

MORE COOOOOOWBEEEELL

Brian Baratheon

18w↑2

This is the first im hearing of fans hating this song. It's one of my favorites from this album.

litigated paradox

16w

Probably bc it’s more similar sounding to the alt rock of the time, however I think that’s part of the enjoyment of this song

DavidFXAA

1y↑13

La canción que combina lo mejor de The Bends y el Radiohead posterior a las guitarras

William Alerding

44w↑11

i am love with this song!!!! 😃

William Alerding

44w↑4

i am to

Atom Muz

22w↑2

Radiohead profound and ethereal in most of more current albums this is just plain instrumental brilliance yess that riff is is off the hook

Lautaro Montoya

19w↑1

probably the last "honey bendy" song from now on

Atom Muz

22w↑2

2:47 min that riff just goes into radiohead world I love this band

dieguito

17w↑1

i love this song when I played motorstorm artic edge in my psp

MrFranganito

21w↑1

This is an amazing track, pure rock and roll beautiful and energic song. Greetings from argentina

Stephanie Marie

32w↑1

this ALBUM IS ONE OF MY TOP FAVORITES!

WTFMate?

1y↑2

Worst track on OKC. Completely out of place in the context of the rest of the album. But STILL a fucking banging tune. Love it. Kinda serves as a bit of a breather.

David Foy

36w↑13

A song, as nobody seems to have mentioned, inspired by New Labours "electioneering" in the 1997 election that shortly preceeded this album.

David Foy

33w↑3

@nalim lattaraiBut Lucky was written in 1995 and was about the war in the Balkans.

nalim lattarai

33w

The head of state lyric in lucky references it

ThinWhiteDude

41w↑2

Needs more cowbell - The Bruce Dickinson

ismayonnaiseaninstrument

30w↑4

ive been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand

ismayonnaiseaninstrument

26w↑1

A totally random person these sensations barely interest me for another* day

A totally random person

26w↑3

Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man

Mark Atkinson

14w

Amazing 'caught me off guard when I first heard this' song. It's what makes the album perfect.

madeleine p.

33w↑1

Electioneering gang rise up

The Rainbow Ninja

24w↑2

music for 2020

Nellson Ogmore

32w↑1

More cowbell needed.

Emily Schuh

33w↑1

Needs more cowbell

Little King Trashmouth

16w↑1

Radiohead didn’t do enough songs like this. The cowbell and the drums are fantastic

Tom Leighton

28w↑3

Awake
Get out of bed
Brush teeth with pliers
Smash an egg over my head
Snort the egg shells
Jump out of my window

Play this song

Ready to start the day.

cashlost 2

28w↑1

Completely normal routine

Severi Sukuvaara

14w

That D chord in the beginning makes the song

hentai expert

40w↑1

motorstrom anybody? good days good days

crisp

29w↑7

When I go forwards, then backwards, will the old comments and the new comments meet?

Andrei Mihăilă

36w↑10

For any reason this reminds me of Muse

Lawrence Simmons

27w

top shout

Snorkel Dawg

16w

Here during election 2020 which has been called by the MEDIA.

confident!

14w

I really like this song, idk about y’all

AXD 004

22w

Greenwoods guitar work is legendary

Michael Peat

14w

Well there’s less depression in the comments than the rest of the album

Designed

17w

Imagine if this was on Pablo Honey

Maria S

44w↑3

I wish they played it live more

Alison Apeler

11w

Fantastic album - all of it

Edson Guillermo

23w↑2

Like 9000 😎

LemonBread

13w

Phase 2 of the Final Boss be like

Eugene Kassakov

16w

If not for Yorke's vox, I could easily mistake this as The Fall song

Zack Zallie

16w

Just like can we rely on the votes.

8 Bit Prodigy

1y↑5

In dedication to Roger Stone

Paul Smith

18w

honestly this might've gone better between airbag and paranoid android

Mx 64

20w

Remember Motorstorm Arctic Edge?

Ripp

26w

Reminds me of taxman off revolver

L Woo

20w

It's just businesssssshhh ahhhhh

Andrew

20w

Killer!

Marta Sofia

22w

Mmm yes cowbell

Vikoro

1y↑25

Sounds like 60's classic rock

cody_irl

40w

The beginning sounds like taxman.

duncan priestley

43w↑1

I was just thinking it was a bit Revolver / Rubber Soul era Beatles.

ThinWhiteAxe

Excellent

Finn Hoffman

1y↑4

Nothing wrong with that.

Kev Purcell

16w

Rock The Vote!

JazzAndRockNRoll

1y↑15

The guitar tone here reminds me of Zoot Horn Rollo's guitar tone on Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica for some reason

Cliche Guevara

43w↑1

This song is one of the biggest reasons I bought a Rickenbacker 330

jjdecani

45w↑1

Incisive treble, man. Or, Incisive Treble Man.

Jon Raggett

51w↑5

Trust Radiohead fans to get this reference lol

JazzAndRockNRoll

Johnny Sullivan Oh wow, what a coincidence

Johnny Sullivan

1y↑2

Creepy, that's the last album I listened to before this one

Danny Allen

13w

My favorite Radiohead song to sing along to. I literally can’t not sing along to the chorus, it’s so catchy.

Daniil Romanenko

13w

I really don't get the disdain for this song - I think it brings some much-needed energy back into the album (not that without this song OK C would be boring or anything, but I still like how this song gives you room to breathe before plunging you back into depression with the next couple of tracks)

Tangerine Roche

42w

this shit goes hard

Khoirul Rahmawan

25w

I actually think this upbeat song is one of Radiohead's best

Jerkhov

16w↑1

When the Radiohead song is a Muse song

Zack Zallie

16w↑1

Check out their b-side Pearly. People literally said the song gave Muse their career. lol

7.8 Billion Subscribers

22w

check the Easy Star All Star's version, it could be argued that it's an improvement

Must be your Imagination

18w

Aha you got me there

7.8 Billion Subscribers

22w

https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ

Algernon cadwallin

1y↑10

Mkay cmpyootur

D S

25w

I trust Donald can rely on your vote

Ian W

48w↑1

under-fucking-rated

sauce

22w

This song is more relevant than ever now.

Sanctus

11w

Non conta quante canzoni ascolti...
Conta quali canzoni ascolti...

OkMoonShapedLimb

40w↑3

😊

Kiki Velez

11w

I think this song is so underrated, people always talk abt let down being underrated, but tbh this song is better than that one. It’s great.

James Laugtug

1y↑4

Written and recorded following listening to Helter Skelter?

SleapyCell

12w

🖤👤🎸🎸🤘🎸🎸👤🖤

Dalton

16w

requiescat in pace donald chump's regime

carlos andres rodriguez avalos

14w

¿regime?

Thomas Nosworthy

12w

Hey Joe.........🐴🐴🐴🇺🇸👽👽👽🇺🇸✝️✝️✝️

Kirk Wolfe

44w↑1

SONG 2 / MOVIN' ON, BLUR.

Kirk Wolfe

43w↑2

I like the word farfetched because makes me think of the pokemon farfetch'd. But, ok, I can tell ya that both bands suffered with their "easy and comfortable success" and decided that 1997 would've been the years of changing everything. Both bands were really stressed, but took the opposite ways. While Radiohead wanted to fly away from the introspective mood of The Bends, Blur wanted to fly away from the socialization of The Great Escape. Both bands were trying to find an uncomfortable stop to deliver something different. Thom Yorke was inspired by Noam Chomsky criticism and Eric Hobsbawm books, Damon and Graham began to criticize britpop and listening to lo-fi US bands. The recurring themes of both albums include transport, technology, insanity, death, modern British life, globalization and anti-capitalism. I can say that both bands could've written each other's album and no one would've noticed. This is not an appointment to say that Radiohead "stole" Blur's sound or lyrics but the themes, the electronic effects and weird instruments used in both albums sound equal. Most important, the feeling of the songs are equal.

stan h

43w

@Kirk Wolfe Just because you compare the songs from OK Computer with Blur's eponymous album. Doesn't mean you're correct. They're my two favorite bands. However, even I think your comparison is a bit farfetched. You would have an easier time making the claim. That every punk rock song is a rip off of one another. With the cliche' being that they're all fast paced and angry. Have a nice rest of your day, pal.