The guitar-work at the end of this track was achieved by Jonny Greenwood playing a sequence of random notes on his guitar that were being processed through a digital patch for software called Max/MSP, which is musical software frequently used by electronica or experimental artists. Some believe that even though this is a random process, what you hear on record sounds slightly more structured and therefore may have been edited in the production process. However, Greenwood has played this song live using the same patch on many occasions, most notably on Later...With Jools Holland where the patch seemed to generate a more frantic and random rendition of the unique solo.
A similar solo to that heard in live versions of "Go to Sleep" was played by Adrian Belew on the 1980 Talking Heads song "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)," though it was generated through different technology. Radiohead have cited the album Remain in Light on which the song appears as a major inspiration on their work in general.
The b-sides are "Gagging Order" and "I am a Wicked Child." The former finds Thom Yorke on solo acoustic guitar. "I am A Wicked Child" is Radiohead playing blues, complete with harmonica work by Jonny Greenwood.
Go To Sleep
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over my dead body
Something big is gonna happen
Over my dead body
Someone's son or someone's daughter
Over my dead body
This is how I end up sucked in
I'm gonna go to sleep
Let this wash all over me
We don't really want a monster taking over
Tiptoe around, tie him down
We don't want the loonies taking over
Tiptoe around, tie them down
May pretty horses
Come to you
As you sleep
I'm gonna go to sleep
And let this wash all over me
The first verse of "Go to Sleep" by Radiohead seems to discuss the concept of power and control. The "rag and bone man" is a reference to a person who collects and sells household goods and other items, often discarded by others. The line "something for the rag and bone man" implies that the singer has something valuable to give, but they will only do so after they have died. The repetition of the phrase "over my dead body" highlights the singer's unwillingness to relinquish control while still living.
The second verse is directed towards the listener or reader, referencing "someone's son or someone's daughter." The singer is warning that they will become "sucked in" if they do not remain vigilant against the forces of control and manipulation. The repetition of the phrase "over my dead body" could also suggest that the singer is willing to die fighting against these forces.
The chorus of the song takes on a different tone. The singer declares that they are "going to sleep" and letting the world wash over them. They acknowledge the potential for "monsters" and "loonies" to take over but ultimately choose to surrender control and seek comfort in the idea of "pretty horses" coming to them as they sleep.
Overall, the lyrics of "Go to Sleep" seem to explore the tension between control and surrender, and the struggle to maintain agency in an unpredictable and chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
Something for the rag and bone man
A request for a small and insignificant offering from the impoverished individual who collects bones and other scraps to earn a living.
Over my dead body
An expression of firm opposition to the prospect of a specific event occurring, to the point of preferring death over allowing it to happen.
Something big is gonna happen
A conviction that a significant and impactful occurrence is imminent, with potential to cause great change or disruption.
Someone's son or someone's daughter
An acknowledgement of the individual nature of each person, implying that they are more than just a faceless statistic or assigned role in society.
This is how I end up sucked in
A recognition of being pulled into a situation or mindset, against one's better judgment or intentions.
I'm gonna go to sleep
A decision to detach and disengage from the current state of affairs, by physically or figuratively withdrawing from the situation and its accompanying stressors.
Let this wash all over me
An acceptance of the impact and influence of the surrounding circumstances, with a willingness to let them pass through and away from oneself without resisting or struggling.
We don't really want a monster taking over
A statement of preference for avoiding the rise to power of a person or group with malicious, harmful, or destructive intentions.
Tiptoe around, tie him down
A strategy for dealing with a potential threat or danger, involving caution, silence, and containment or control of the situation before it escalates further.
We don't want the loonies taking over
A similar sentiment to the previous line, but with a more general reference to individuals seen as irrational or unstable, rather than specifically monstrous.
May pretty horses come to you as you sleep
A kind wish for peaceful and pleasant dreams, using the image of beautiful animals as a symbol of calm and serenity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Unison Rights S.L., 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
@Anonymous-pw4tx
Lyrics :
Something for the rag and bone man
Over my dead body
Something big is gonna happen
Over my dead body
Someone's son or someone's daughter
Over my dead body
This is how I end up sucked in
Over my dead body
I'm gonna go to sleep
Let this wash all over me
We don't really want a monster taking over
Tiptoe around, tie him down
We don't want the loonies taking over
Tiptoe around, tie them down
May pretty horses
Come to you
As you sleep
I'm gonna go to sleep
And let this wash all over me.
@UndertaleFan-cx2mc
Same here
Until The Bends, I hated them, thought they were the weirdest band ever created, couldn't get into OK Computer to save my life
Thankfully after The Bends, my opinion got better, and I finally grew to like OK Computer
Then In Rainbows and Hail To The Thief, really good for the most part
Finally Kid A And Amnesiac, where I had to overcome their most non-rock albums (and they weren't too bad)
Recently it was Pablo Honey, which thankfully wasn't boring and had some alright songs
So all that's left is The King Of Limbs and A Moon Shaped Pool, and I'd say things are going ok with Radiohead for me; really good on some parts, half decent on others
Sorry about the paragraph
@TheMillerman95
Something for the rag and bone man
Over my dead body
Something big is gonna happen
Over my dead body
Someone saw someone's daughter
Over my dead body
This is how I end up sucked in
Over my dead body
I'm gonna Go To Sleep
And let this wash all over me
We don't really want the monster taking over
Tip toeing, tying down
We don't want the loonies taking over
Tip toeing, tying down our arms
May pretty horses come to you as you sleep
I'm gonna Go To Sleep
And let this wash all over me
@bobthearm47
Fun fact: the crowds in this video were animated using the same software that was used to animate ridiculously large armies in the Lord of the Rings movies.
@jeanrenaudviers
Can you tell me the name of this software ?
@krisfrederick5001
Just when I thought I couldn't love either one anymore.
@bobthearm47
@Jean-Renaud Viers Massive
@BezanDarro
Yeap... massive.
@B.Murphy
Learn something everyday.
@SenorMango
all the guitars in this song are so fucking perfect
@AlchemistsTable
the harmonizing as well...when you listen to this (and most music) with a decent set of headphones and a high-quality digital copy of the track -- man, it just blows you away. All the wonderful layers seamed together so well.
@lnlonelyness6021
I was worried that it'd turn one-dimensional until the second half kicks in where they deviate a bit from that guitar riff which is good, I think what sold it for me though was mostly Thom's performance so much that I can overlook flaws on its production and instrumentals (as opposed to Sit Down Stand Up)
@paulphoenix1669
Man what is your profile picture from??? It feels like you reached into the deepest recess of my mind to find that picture, but I can't for the life of me tell you where it's from