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)
Let Down 1
Radiohead Lyrics
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Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles
When it comes it's so, so, disappointing
Let down and hanging around
Let down and hanging around
Shell smashed, juices flowing
Wings twitch, legs are going
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel
One day, I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Let down
Let down
Let down
You know, you know where you are with
You know where you are with
Floor collapsing, falling
Bouncing back and one day, I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction (you know where you are)
Hysterical and useless (you know where you are)
Hysterical and (you know where you are)
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
The Radiohead song Let Down contains lyrics that feel abstract but also deeply human. The song deals with disappointment in various forms, from expectations of the modern world to personal relationships. The opening lines seem to touch on the monotony of everyday life - "Transport, motorways, and tramlines, starting and then stopping, taking off and landing" - moments that feel like transitions but don't lead to anything profound. The triplet "So, so, disappointing" adds emphasis to the feeling of dissatisfaction.
The next verse starts with "Shell smashed, juices flowing, wings twitch, legs are going" which suggests a bird or insect. However, the outlook quickly turns bleak with the line "Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel". The disappointment here is not only the frustration of not being able to fly, but also the feeling that anything that feels like progress or hope will ultimately lead to nothing. The chorus repeats the phrase "Let down and hanging around" which adds to the sense of stagnation and not moving forward in life.
The song continues on this theme, with the lyrics ultimately expressing a kind of resignation towards disappointment. The final verse sums up this feeling of helplessness and frustration. The lyrics "Floor collapsing, falling, bouncing back" suggest a cyclical pattern, with the singer feeling powerless to break free. The final line "Hysterical and (you know where you are)" seems to acknowledge the futility of trying to resist this sense of being let down.
Line by Line Meaning
Transport, motorways and tramlines
The hustle and bustle of modern life represented by various modes of transport.
Starting and then stopping
The cycle of going through the motions and not making any real progress.
Taking off and landing
Starting and stopping again, without actually achieving anything meaningful.
The emptiest of feelings
A sense of profound emptiness and meaninglessness.
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles
People trying to cope with the disappointment and disillusionment of life through alcohol and other vices.
When it comes it's so, so, disappointing
When something longed for finally arrives, it is often a letdown and not as fulfilling as anticipated.
Let down and hanging around
Feeling neglected and left behind.
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Feeling powerless and insignificant, like an insect that has been crushed underfoot.
Shell smashed, juices flowing
A metaphor for feeling emotionally vulnerable and exposed.
Wings twitch, legs are going
Feeling restless and trapped, yearning for liberation and escape.
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel
Rejecting sentimentality as superficial and insincere.
One day, I am gonna grow wings
Expressing a longing for a transformative experience and a new sense of possibility.
A chemical reaction
The idea that profound change can occur through sudden, unpredictable events.
Hysterical and useless
The sense of frustration and impotence in the face of an uncertain and chaotic world.
You know, you know where you are with
A sense of familiarity and predictability can be comforting.
Floor collapsing, falling
The sudden collapse of familiar structures and routines, leading to a sense of disorientation and confusion.
Bouncing back and one day, I am gonna grow wings
The hope for eventual recovery and transformation despite setbacks and disappointments.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., 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