From Ed's sweet, tingling, opening riff, the rest of "Lucky" was generated. "I remember fiddling around in the sound check," he says. "[We] were in Japan- and putting together a different pedal order and actually hitting the strings above the nut on the headstock. The pedals that I did it with, and the delay that was going on. It was one of those moments -'Yeah, this is pretty cool'" From here, "Lucky" was made into what the band considers a "happy" song, or at least as happy a song as they are capable of creating. An identical version, which can be found on both the Help! compilation and the Help! EP, also appears on OK Computer. This wasn't the plan: the band did try to remix the track for the third album but found they couldn't improve on it.
In 1995, Radiohead were on tour, promoting their second album, The Bends. During soundchecks for shows in Japan, guitarist Ed O'Brien produced a high-pitched sound by strumming above the guitar nut. The band developed the sound into a song, "Lucky", which became part of the set list.
Around this time, the producer Brian Eno asked Radiohead to contribute a song to The Help Album, a charity compilation organised by the charity War Child. The album was to be recorded in a single day, 4 September 1995, and rush-released that week. Radiohead recorded "Lucky" in five hours with engineer Nigel Godrich, who had assisted producer John Leckie with The Bends and produced several Radiohead B-sides Godrich went on to produce their third album, OK Computer. He said of the Help Album session: "Those things are the most inspiring, when you do stuff really fast and there's nothing to lose. We left feeling fairly euphoric."
Yorke later said "Lucky" shaped the nascent sound and mood of OK Computer. He said: "'Lucky' was indicative of what we wanted to do. It was like the first mark on the wall."
Lucky
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on a roll this time
I feel my luck could change
Kill me, Sarah
Kill me again with love
It's gonna be a glorious day
Pull me out of the lake
'Cause I'm your superhero
We are standing on the edge
The head of state has called for me by name
But I don't have time for him
It's gonna be a glorious day
I feel my luck could change
Pull me out of the aircrash
Pull me out of the lake
'Cause I'm your superhero
We are standing on the edge
We are standing on the edge
"Lucky" by Radiohead is a complex and layered song that explores themes of luck and desperation in human emotion. The opening verse has a positive tone, with Tom Yorke singing "I'm on a roll, I'm on a roll this time, I feel my luck could change." The positive affirmation of good fortune is quickly replaced with a note of desperation in the rough and powerful line "Kill me, Sarah, kill me again with love, it's gonna be a glorious day." The lyric deals with the possibility of the singer's rebirth through the power of love, and that's what is meant by 'kill me again'. And with the religious references throughout the song, the 'glorious day' referred to is most likely the Day of Judgment as described in the Bible.
The chorus section of the song features the voice of a person in distress calling for help: "pull me out of the aircrash, pull me out of the lake, 'cause I'm your superhero, we are standing on the edge." The use of the word "aircrash" in the chorus suggests that the singer is in the midst of some kind of life or death situation. But the lyrics offer hope for salvation through the voice of an unnamed person who is referred to as "your superhero." This person, who might represent a force of good or a divine being, has the power to pull the singer back from the edge and save him from disaster.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on a roll
I am currently experiencing a series of good events and circumstances.
I'm on a roll this time
This time the luck seems to be staying longer than before.
I feel my luck could change
Despite the fortunate occurrences, the singer is aware that it could all end anytime.
Kill me, Sarah
The artist wants to be loved so fiercely that it feels like a fatal blow.
Kill me again with love
The artist wants to experience the same level of love again and again.
It's gonna be a glorious day
The future seems bright and promising.
Pull me out of the aircrash
The singer is in a difficult situation and needs help getting out.
Pull me out of the lake
Another plea for assistance, this time from a drowning situation.
'Cause I'm your superhero
The artist identifies as a protector of someone they care about.
We are standing on the edge
The situation is precarious and could go either way.
The head of state has called for me by name
The singer has caught someone's attention, possibly for their heroic deeds.
But I don't have time for him
The artist has other priorities that are more important at the moment.
It's gonna be a glorious day
The optimism for a great future is repeated again, emphasizing the hopefulness.
I feel my luck could change
Despite the positivity, the singer is still aware that it may not last forever.
Pull me out of the aircrash
The plea for assistance is repeated, as if to emphasize the vulnerability of the singer.
Pull me out of the lake
Another desperate cry for help.
'Cause I'm your superhero
The role of protector is emphasized again, possibly to reassure the person being protected that they can depend on the artist.
We are standing on the edge
The precarious nature of the situation is reiterated, as if to suggest that the singer needs help to stay safe.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Edward Yorke, Edward John O'Brien, Colin Charles Greenwood, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip James Selway
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