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)
Lewis
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buy early business friend
The smell of fear is bigger than you think
Hey don't do it
Do it
Change seem to fit
And then you choke on an anesthetic
Hey don't do it
Lewis
Lewis
Save yourself the pain
You'll never get there
Lewis
Save yourself the pain
It never really matters here
We never noticed
We never understood
He just get crushed to fit
He never even smile
At the best, it's the best,
It's the best day I know
Lewis
Save yourself the pain
You'll never get there
Lewis
Save yourself the pain
It never really matters here
Lewis
Mistreated
I call you blue
Lewis
Mistreated
I call you blue
I don't want to talk about it
I don't want to talk about it
I don't want to talk about Lewis! Lewis! Lewis!
I don't want to talk about it
Lewis! Lewis! Lewis!
The lyrics of Radiohead's song "Lewis" appear to be addressed to someone named Lewis who is going through a tough time. The opening lines "Bummed out again, buy early business friend" suggest that Lewis may be struggling in his career or personal finances. The next line "The smell of fear is bigger than you think" implies that Lewis is afraid of something, possibly losing his job or failing in his endeavors.
The chorus of the song urges Lewis to save himself the pain and suggests that he may never achieve the success he desires. The line "He just gets crushed to fit, He never even smiles" suggests that Lewis may be conforming to societal expectations and suppressing his true self in order to fit in.
The song ends with a repetition of Lewis' name and a refusal to talk about him, indicating that the singer may be frustrated or unable to help Lewis despite their concern.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lewis" portray the struggles of someone trying to find their place in the world and the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Bummed out again
Feeling down and depressed once more
Buy early business friend
Trying to make business deals before it's too late
The smell of fear is bigger than you think
Fear is much more potent and dangerous than it appears
Hey don't do it
Warning someone not to take certain action
Do it
Giving in and allowing someone to go through with the action they were warned against
Change seem to fit
Change appears to be appropriate or necessary
In the end you just feel sick
Despite the appearance of fitting, the outcome is negative and generates negative feelings
And then you choke on an anesthetic
An attempt to numb the pain results in feeling suffocated and choked
Lewis
Addressing someone named Lewis
Lewis
Addressing someone named Lewis
Save yourself the pain
Urging Lewis to avoid unnecessary pain or suffering
You'll never get there
Implying that Lewis will never achieve the desired outcome despite their efforts
Lewis
Addressing someone named Lewis
Save yourself the pain
Urging Lewis to avoid unnecessary pain or suffering
It never really matters here
Suggesting that success may not be important or valued in their current situation
We never noticed
Acknowledging that they didn't pay close attention to someone or something
We never understood
Acknowledging that they didn't comprehend the person or thing they didn't pay enough attention to
He just get crushed to fit
Describing how someone was forced to conform and suffered as a result
He never even smile
Noting that the person never found anything to smile about
At the best, it's the best,
Acknowledging that even the best outcome can still be unsatisfying
It's the best day I know
Considering that what they considered to be a great day still wasn't perfect
Mistreated
Admitting that Lewis was treated poorly
I call you blue
Referring to Lewis by a nickname or codename
I don't want to talk about it
Expressing a reluctance to discuss something
Lewis!
Addressing Lewis once again
Lewis!
Addressing Lewis once again
Lewis!
Addressing Lewis once again
I don't want to talk about it
Reiterating the reluctance to discuss something
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP SELWAY, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS YORKE, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind