Karma Police
Radiohead Lyrics


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Karma police
Arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio

Karma police
Arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo
Is making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party

This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us

Karma police
I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll

This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us

For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself

For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself




Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself

Overall Meaning

The song Karma Police by Radiohead is a commentary on the concept of karma and how it applies to societal justice. The lyrics "karma police, arrest this man" and "arrest this girl" suggest that the consequences of one's actions catch up with them eventually. The man in question is someone who "talks in maths" and "buzzes like a fridge," suggesting that he is aloof and disconnected from the emotions of those around him. The girl is described as having a "Hitler hairdo" that makes the singer feel ill, indicating that she represents something morally repugnant or oppressive.


The chorus, "this is what you'll get when you mess with us," suggests that the band sees themselves as oracles of justice, wielding the power of karma to take down those who have done wrong. The lines "I've given all I can, but we're still on the payroll" imply that there are still hierarchies and power structures in place that prevent justice from being fully realized. The song ends with the lines "for a minute there, I lost myself," suggesting that the singer is grappling with the power and responsibility that comes with being a member of the karma police.


Line by Line Meaning

Karma police
Justice is being served


Arrest this man
This man should be held accountable for his actions


He talks in maths
This man is difficult to understand or connect with


He buzzes like a fridge
He has an irritating presence


He's like a detuned radio
This man is disconnected and disruptive


Karma police
Justice is being served


Arrest this girl
This girl should be held accountable for her actions


Her Hitler hairdo
This girl's appearance is triggering and offensive


Is making me feel ill
Her appearance is causing discomfort


And we have crashed her party
We are disrupting her life or plans


This is what you'll get
You will face consequences


This is what you'll get
You will face consequences


This is what you'll get
You will face consequences


When you mess with us
When you try to harm or upset us


Karma police
Justice is being served


I've given all I can
I have done everything possible


It's not enough
My efforts were insufficient


But we're still on the payroll
We are still expected to do our jobs despite difficulties or challenges


This is what you'll get
You will face consequences


This is what you'll get
You will face consequences


This is what you'll get
You will face consequences


When you mess with us
When you try to harm or upset us


For a minute there
During a brief period of time


I lost myself, I lost myself
I became consumed by my own thoughts


Phew, for a minute there
Expressing relief after a moment of stress or anxiety


I lost myself, I lost myself
I became consumed by my own thoughts




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Music India Private Limited, 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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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@danielalexanderromerovelas6292

LETRA
Karma police, arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio

Karma police, arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo
Is making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party

This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us

Karma police, I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll

This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us

For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself

For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself



@thedancingcentipede

I've been listening to this masterpiece for years but it was a treat to hear it on the Invincible soundtrack. This is a song that captures the fact that it's about the loss of identity in a world full of hypocrisy in which you can get lost for a moment. Very fitting to the first episode of season 2 of Invincible. One of my favourite songs. The fact that Mark never once stopped to get any credit for the acts of heroism he performed really stands out to me. He isn't to fix his reputation and prove to the general public he's not Omn-Man. He's trying to prove to himself that he's not his dad. He also likely feels he can't stay in one place because all they see is "Omni-Man's son". One of my favourite scenes.

[Verse 1]
Karma police, arrest this man, he talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio

[Verse 2]
Karma police, arrest this girl, her Hitler hairdo
Is making me feel ill and we have crashed her party

[Chorus]
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get
When you mess with us

[Verse 3]
Karma police, I've given all I can, it's not enough
I've given all I can, but we're still on the payroll

[Chorus]
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get
When you mess with us

[Outro]
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself

🖤🖤



@BoerixMr

LYRICS:
Karma police
Arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio
Karma police
Arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo
Is making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us
Karma police
I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself



@youngeuphoria02

Lyrics:

Karma police
Arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio

Karma police
Arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo
Is making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party

This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us

Karma police
I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll

This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us

For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself

For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself



@jass2889

Karma police
Arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio
Karma police
Arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo
Is making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us
Karma police
I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
This is what you'll get
When you mess with us
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself



All comments from YouTube:

@aidenwhittingham3729

Fun Fact: Thom Yorke says that this music video was his favorite to have filmed because he was drunk the whole time.

@metalmask5

lmao

@CalridRobnor123srs

@@metalmask5 don't believe you: provide quotes and information. other wise it's the kharma police. :P

@KamisatoElias

haha love it

@tutan7814

XD

@sudamericanrockers6616

thom york remembers very little of what he did

140 More Replies...

@jadensteadman277

Shout out Invincible for showing this song to me

@psychicspy1234

Yeah, old fav, but had to come back again after watching invincible

@parnoico1

Same, I know and love only one song from radiohead, but after watching invincible and really liking this song Im currently listening to more of their works.

@jittyjjunior9397

same

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