The still untitled song was introduced to the band by Thom in the middle of… Read Full Bio ↴The still untitled song was introduced to the band by Thom in the middle of sessions for Kid A, and Ed's Diary mentions the song twice as " song with no name" and "Move Along".

A simple version with just Thom on acoustic guitar was released under the new title 'Gagging Order' on the second of two Go To Sleep singles. It was paired with 'I am a Wicked Child'. Apparently both recordings are outtakes from the Kid A sessions, not new recordings from 2002.
The engineering credit for Graeme Stewart points to the rehearsals for Hail to the Thief in spring 2002, and in 2008 Ed confirmed that the released recording indeed comes from that period.

Gagging Order
Radiohead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know what you're thinking
But I'm not your property
No matter what you say
No matter what you say

Move along, there's nothing left to see
Just a body, nothing left to see

A couple more for breakfast
A little more for tea
Just to take the edge off
Just to take the edge off

Move along, there's nothing left to see
Just a body, pouring down the street

Move along, there's nothing left to see
Just a body, nothing left to see

Move along

Overall Meaning

, the singer of the song is trying to set boundaries with someone who has been trying to control them. They are trying to make it clear that they are their own person, and not something that can be owned or manipulated by someone else. Despite the other person's attempts to exert influence over them, the singer is determined to stand their ground.

The repeated refrain, "Move along, there's nothing left to see", suggests a sense of weariness and resignation on the part of the singer. They have grown tired of this person's behavior and just want to be left alone. The mention of "a couple more for breakfast / a little more for tea" could be interpreted as a reference to substance use as a coping mechanism, although this is left somewhat ambiguous.

Overall, the lyrics of "Gagging Order" suggest a struggle for autonomy and independence in the face of external pressures. The singer is trying to assert their agency and push back against someone who is trying to control them, but at the same time they seem to be dealing with feelings of exhaustion and defeat.

Line by Line Meaning

I know what you're thinking
I am aware of your thoughts

But I'm not your property
I am not owned by you

No matter what you say
Your words do not change my stance

Move along, there's nothing left to see
Keep walking, there's no significant thing to witness

Just a body, nothing left to see
The remains are all that's left, no more spectacle

A couple more for breakfast
A few extra pills in the morning

A little more for tea
Some extra substance to drink

Just to take the edge off
To ease the pain or discomfort

Move along, there's nothing left to see
Keep walking, there's no significant thing to witness

Just a body, pouring down the street
Only a corpse, laying on the ground

Move along, there's nothing left to see
Keep walking, there's no significant thing to witness

Just a body, nothing left to see
The human has expired, there's no more to view

Move along
Keep walking

Lyrics © 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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