Morning Mr Magpie
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got some nerve coming here
You stole it all
Give it back
You stole it all
Give it back
Good morning, Mister Magpie
Now you've stolen all the magic
I turn my back, walk away
You know you should
But you don't
You know you should
But you don't
Good morning, Mister Magpie
How are we today?
Now you've stolen all the magic
Took my melody
The lyrics to Radiohead's song Morning Mr Magpie are rich in meaning, but one interpretation can be that the song is about the loss of creativity and inspiration. The repeated lines "You stole it all, give it back" suggest that the singer has lost something dear to them, possibly their artistic motivation or a specific idea for a song. The mention of a magpie, a bird typically associated with thievery in English folklore, reinforces this theme of loss and theft.
The chorus, which addresses the magpie as "Mister Magpie," adds a sense of frustration and bitterness to the lyrics. The singer's attempts to confront the magpie about its theft are met with resistance and denial, as seen in the lines "You know you should, but you don't." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the creative blocks and self-doubt that can hinder artists and their work.
The final line "Took my melody" could be interpreted as a metaphor for having ideas stolen, or simply the loss of a specific song idea. Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and loss, as the singer struggles to reclaim what has been taken from them.
Line by Line Meaning
You got some nerve coming here
The subject expresses surprise and irritation at the presence of the listener.
You stole it all
The subject accuses the listener of taking everything they had.
Give it back
The subject demands that the listener return what they took.
Good morning, Mister Magpie
The subject greets the magpie, which is often associated with thievery and bad luck.
How are we today?
The subject questions the magpie's well-being, but the true meaning is sarcastic as they are blaming the magpie for their misfortune.
Now you've stolen all the magic
The subject accuses the magpie of taking away everything that made life special or meaningful.
I turn my back, walk away
The subject decides to give up on trying to make things right and leaves the situation.
You know you should
The subject acknowledges that the listener is aware of what they did was wrong.
But you don't
The subject is disappointed that the listener has not taken any action to correct their mistake.
Took my melody
The subject accuses the magpie of stealing their creativity or inspiration.
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