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)
I Am A Wicked Child
Radiohead Lyrics
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For I am a wicked child
I have sinned and I am so confused
For I am a wicked child
I am a wicked child
I am the Devil's son
And I wish I could be good
Yeah I wish I could be good
I wish I could be good
If I could have kept on the straight and narrow
If I could have kept on the straight and narrow
But God broke your heart
God broke your heart
Now I wake up in the night
He's tugging at my arms and legs
Like I was a marionette
Send baby Jesus
To radiate his lie
To radiate his lie
The lyrics of Radiohead's "I Am A Wicked Child" explore themes of guilt, sin, and redemption. The singer is seeking forgiveness from Mother Mary for their sins as they feel they are a wicked child. They express confusion and a desire to be good, but feel they are the Devil's son, incapable of redemption. The line "If I could have kept on the straight and narrow, But God broke your heart" suggests that perhaps the singer had previously been on a path of righteousness, but something happened to cause them to go astray. The final lines are a plea for help, as the singer feels as if they are being controlled like a puppet by Satan, and they want baby Jesus to come and "radiate his lie" to offer some form of salvation.
The imagery in the lyrics is striking and evocative, with the singer describing themselves as a "wicked child" and the Devil's son. The use of religious imagery is also significant, as the song grapples with questions of morality and sin. The lyrics may be interpreted as a commentary on the internal struggles that people face when trying to reconcile their actions with their beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother Mary come for me
Asking for help from a higher power.
For I am a wicked child
Admitting to being sinful and lost.
I have sinned and I am so confused
Acknowledging guilt and uncertainty.
I am a wicked child
Repeating the admission of being lost.
I am the Devil's son
Feeling like being controlled by evil forces beyond control.
And I wish I could be good
Expressing a desire to be free from the evil influence.
I walk the crooked mile
Feeling like constantly making the wrong choices.
Yeah I wish I could be good
Reiterating the desire to change for the better.
If I could have kept on the straight and narrow
Regretfully considering the missed opportunities to stay on a morally right path.
But God broke your heart
Blaming a higher power for failing to keep them away from sin and despair.
Now I wake up in the night
Experiencing insomnia due to the overwhelming feelings of guilt and despair.
He's tugging at my arms and legs
Feeling as if being controlled by an external force.
Like I was a marionette
Drawing a comparison to a puppet that is remote-controlled by someone else.
Send baby Jesus
Asking for help from a religious figure.
To radiate his lie
Questioning the legitimacy of religious teachings and wondering whether there is a way out of the desperate situation.
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