The band first performed the song in 1998 during the tour. An early soundcheck performance features in the 1998 documentary "Meeting People Is Easy".
During the "Kid A" sessions in 1999, Radiohead recorded demos for the song in various studios, until it was recorded at their Oxfordshire studio at the end of January, 2000. In early February, the strings were recorded and performed by the Orchestra of St John's inside a church near the band's studio, composed by the multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood on an ondes Martenot. An isolated strings track was included on the compilation "Kid Amnesia".
“That song is about the whole period of time that "OK Computer" was happening. We did the Glastonbury Festival and this thing in Ireland. Something snapped in me. I just said, ‘That’s it. I can’t take it anymore.’ And more than a year later, we were still on the road. I hadn’t had time to address things. The lyrics came from something Michael Stipe said to me. I rang him and said, ‘I cannot cope with this.’ And he said, ‘Pull the shutters down and keep saying, 'I’m not here, this is not happening.’” — Thom Yorke
How to Disappear Completely
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's not me
I go
Where I please
I walk through walls
I float down the Liffey
I'm not here
I'm not here
I'm not here
In a little while
I'll be gone
The moment's already passed
Yeah it's gone
And I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here
Strobe lights and blown speakers
Fireworks and hurricanes
I'm not here
I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here
The lyrics to How to Disappear Completely by Radiohead are metaphorical and suggest a desire to escape reality, to disappear, and to exist in a world where nothing is happening. The repetition of “I’m not here, this isn’t happening” emphasizes this feeling of detachment and unreality.
The first lines, “That there, that’s not me, I go where I please,” suggests a feeling of disconnect from oneself and others. The lines “I walk through walls, I float down the Liffey” suggest a desire to be invisible and free, able to move through the world effortlessly.
The second stanza further reinforces this feeling of wanting to disappear, with the lines “In a little while, I’ll be gone, the moment’s already passed, yeah it’s gone.” The use of past tense in these lines suggests that the singer longs to be removed from the present, living in a world where time has no meaning.
The final stanza, with its images of strobe lights, blown speakers, and fireworks, suggests a feeling of overwhelm and a desire to escape from external stimuli. The repetition of “I’m not here, this isn’t happening” throughout the song suggests a fear of being consumed by the present moment and a desire to disappear completely.
Line by Line Meaning
That there
The thing that is currently in front of me or happening is not really a part of me or something that I identify with.
That's not me
That thing/person/situation is not a reflection or accurate representation of who I truly am.
I go
I am free to make my own choices, especially when it comes to leaving or avoiding uncomfortable or unpleasant situations.
Where I please
I have the power to move or exist in any physical or mental space that I desire, regardless of what others may expect or demand of me.
I walk through walls
I possess the ability to overcome obstacles and barriers that would normally prevent me from achieving my goals or realizing my true potential.
I float down the Liffey
I am not anchored or restricted by any particular location or circumstance, but rather have the freedom to explore and experience new things.
I'm not here
I am disassociating myself from the current moment, either because it is too difficult to handle or because it doesn't align with my true desires or nature.
This isn't happening
I am struggling to accept or come to terms with what is occurring, or I am simply choosing to remove myself from the situation by denying its existence or reality.
In a little while
Soon, I will be gone from this moment or situation, as I have the power to change my circumstances and move on to something new.
The moment's already passed
I cannot go back or undo what has already happened in the past, so I must accept it and move on from it in order to grow and thrive in the present.
Yeah, it's gone
I acknowledge that the past is truly and finally over, and that I must let go of any lingering regrets or attachments that may be holding me back.
Strobe lights and blown speakers
I am overwhelmed by the chaos, noise, and confusion of the world around me, which is preventing me from focusing on my own goals and desires.
Fireworks and hurricanes
The unpredictable and uncontrollable aspects of life are making it difficult for me to navigate and find stability in my own existence.
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
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