It primarily deals with disappointment, in all its forms. From one's disappointment with the monotony of modern life ('Transport, motorways and tramlines'), to the seemingly never-ending cycle of disappointment perpetuated by the places and people in your life ('You know where you are with'). And yet, you continue to interact with it all despite being aware of it ('... And hanging around'). A yearning to break this cycle is illustrated through the image of a swatted butterfly, awaiting a new metamorphosis. ('One day, I am gonna grow wings' / 'A chemical reaction' / 'Hysterical and useless' /' Hysterical and'). This theme is similar to another track on OK Computer, "No Surprises".
The “clinging on to bottles” line originated from an idea that Yorke thought was hilarious, explaining "I was pissed in a club, and I suddenly had the funniest thought I’d had for ages – what if all the people who were drinking were hanging from the bottles… If the bottles were hung from the ceiling with string, and the floor caved in, and the only thing that kept everyone up was the bottles? It’s also about an enormous fear of being trapped."
Letdown
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 Crushed like a bug in the ground
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 lyrics of Radiohead's song Letdown are a subtle critique of the modern world, and more specifically, the false promises of progress and technology. The opening lines describe the endless cycle of transportation that characterizes modern life in industrialized societies - motorways, trams, planes, and so on. The act of starting and stopping, taking off and landing, reflects the stops and starts of progress and the illusion of forward movement to which people cling. The emptiest of feelings is the disillusionment that follows, as people realize that the promised utopia of technological progress is just out of reach. Disappointment and disillusionment lead to people seeking comfort in alcohol, but that too turns out to be disappointing.
The second verse continues the theme of disillusionment but takes a more biological turn. The image of a bug being crushed into the ground is jarring, but it represents the fragility of life and the feeling of being powerless in the face of technological progress. The image of wings twitching and legs going refers to the struggle for survival, but also to the desire to escape the confines of the physical world. The lines "Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel/ One day, I am gonna grow wings" suggest that sentimentality is a trap, and that true progress requires a chemical reaction - something fundamental that changes the nature of reality.
Overall, the song reflects the feeling of being let down by the promises of progress and technology, and the sense that true progress may require a radical reimagining of the world and ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Transport, motorways and tramlines
The mundane routine of daily life; travel, roads and infrastructure.
Starting and then stopping
The ups and downs of life; moments of momentum followed by stagnation.
Taking off and landing
The cyclical nature of life and its progression, followed by regression.
The emptiest of feelings
A sense of disappointment or disillusionment with the world.
Disappointed people, clinging on to bottles
Coping mechanisms for those trying to escape their disappointment and dissatisfaction.
When it comes it's so, so, disappointing
Anticipation can lead to heightened expectations, which can ultimately result in a letdown.
Let down and hanging around
The feeling of being stuck in a rut, without direction or progress.
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Feeling small and insignificant in comparison to the world's problems.
Shell smashed, juices flowing
A metaphor for a breakdown or emotional vulnerability.
Wings twitch, legs are going
A desire for change or growth; the feeling of being on the cusp of a breakthrough.
Don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel
Advice not to glorify the past or overly romanticize memories, as it inevitably leads to disappointment.
One day, I am gonna grow wings
A symbol of hope or optimism for the future; the idea of personal transformation or ascension.
A chemical reaction
A scientific explanation for the emotions and changes we experience in life.
Hysterical and useless
The feeling of being overwhelmed or helpless in difficult situations.
You know, you know where you are with
The familiarity or predictability of certain processes or situations.
Floor collapsing, falling
A sudden and unexpected change or loss of stability.
Bouncing back and one day, I am gonna grow wings
The resilience to overcome hardship and the hope for a better future.
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
Me me
on No Surprises
The way i interpret the lyrics: ; Once excitement of youthful perspective,, hopes, dreams are broken, into an almost nihilistic acceptance of patterns world, we coast,….. become a part of the dull hum we swore we never would become part of. Time pulls us forward, wears and tears until we accept. Can not fight against the current yet knowing we swore we would never.
no
on Radio Head - no surprises
heylo aaa