Radiohead is an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985.… Read Full Bio ↴Radiohead is an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass); Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals); and Philip Selway (drums, percussion). They have worked with the producer Nigel Godrich and the cover artist Stanley Donwood since 1994. Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock.

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)

Molasses
Radiohead Lyrics

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Shake hands
Genocide
Molasses
Jet-powered caravans
Molasses
I'm too good
You're stuck on
Rent free earthquake zone

Molasses

I need someone else's glasses.
Starving waitresses in plasters,
Fat houseflies
Genocide

We've been stitched up
Molasses

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Radiohead's song "Molasses" are cryptic in nature, making it difficult to discern the exact meaning behind them. As usual, the band's use of metaphor and symbolism is evident. The lyrics describe a feeling of being stuck, unable to move forward due to various obstacles. The first verse mentions "shake hands" followed by "genocide," possibly symbolizing a lack of trust and the senseless violence that often ensues. This is followed by the repeated use of the word "molasses," which suggests a feeling of being slow and stuck in time, unable to move forward. The mention of "jet-powered caravans" could be seen as a symbol of progress and forward movement, but these too are stuck in molasses. The line "I'm too good, you're stuck on" suggests a feeling of superiority, but also a sense of being stuck in one's own beliefs or ideas.

Line by Line Meaning

Shake hands
Greetings with a handshake, beginning of a conversation

Genocide
Violent killing of a large group of people, possibly a reference to political turmoil

Molasses
Slow, sluggish pace or situation that is difficult to escape

Jet-powered caravans
Moving forward at a high speed, possibly referencing the fast pace of society

Molasses
Continuation of the idea of being stuck and unable to escape

I'm too good
Feeling superior to others, not easily impressed

You're stuck on
Others are fixated and unable to move past a certain situation or idea

Rent free earthquake zone
A situation that is unstable and unpredictable, without a clear solution

Molasses
Reiteration of the theme of being stuck and unable to escape

I need someone else's glasses
Feeling disconnected from reality, needing a new perspective

Starving waitresses in plasters
A portrayal of vulnerability and struggle, possibly referencing societal issues