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)
Open
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is now the witching hour
Genie let out of the bottle
It is now the witching hour
Murderers, you're murderers
We are not the same as you
Genie let out of the bottle
When the walls bend, when the walls bend
With your breathing, with your breathing
When the walls bend, when the walls bend
With your breathing, with your breathing
With your breathing
They will suck you down to the other side x4
To the shadows blue and red, shadows blue and red
Your alarm bells, your alarm bells
Shadows blue and red, shadows blue and red
Your alarm bells, your alarm bells
They should be ringing x12
This is the gloaming
Shadows blue and red
Shadows blue and red
Your alarm bells
Your alarm bells
Shadows blue and red
Shadows blue and red
We're alarming
We're alarming
And the walls bend, and the walls bend
With your breathing, with your breathing
And the walls bend, and the walls bend
What is he doin' what is he doin'
This is the gloaming [Repeat: x 4]
This is the
gloaming
The lyrics of Radiohead's song "Open" are open to interpretation, but one possible meaning is that it is a commentary on the dangers of giving in to our darker impulses. The line "Genie let out of the bottle, It is now the witching hour" could represent the release of something dangerous or uncontrollable, while "Murderers, you're murderers" suggests a condemnation of those who would harm others. The repeated line "When the walls bend, with your breathing" may symbolize a loss of control or a feeling of being overwhelmed.
The chorus of "Shadows blue and red, your alarm bells, they should be ringing" adds to the sense of danger and unease, suggesting that something bad is about to happen. The repetition of "This is the gloaming" throughout the song adds to the ominous tone, with the word "gloaming" referring to the time of day when the sky is just starting to darken.
Line by Line Meaning
Genie let out of the bottle
Something dangerous or uncontrollable has been set free.
It is now the witching hour
It is a time of darkness and supernatural activity.
Murderers, you're murderers
Those who harm others are condemned and judged.
We are not the same as you
There is a clear distinction between us and those who harm others.
Funny how, funny how
There is a dark irony to the situation.
When the walls bend, when the walls bend
Reality is starting to warp and collapse.
With your breathing, with your breathing
The cause of this distortion is tied to our own existence and actions.
They will suck you down to the other side x4
The distortion will drag us into a different, darker reality.
To the shadows blue and red, shadows blue and red
The other side is colored by confusion and danger.
Your alarm bells, your alarm bells
We are starting to sense the danger and must respond.
They should be ringing x12
We should be paying closer attention to the danger and preparing for it.
This is the gloaming
We have entered a time of darkness and confusion.
Shadows blue and red
The danger is real and present.
We're alarming
We are sounding the alarm and trying to get others to listen.
And the walls bend, and the walls bend
The distortion and danger is increasing and spreading.
What is he doin' what is he doin'
Someone is contributing to the danger and we must stop them.
This is the gloaming [Repeat: x 4]
We are caught in a dangerous and confusing situation that is unlikely to get better.
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
Elra Beechum
LOVE how The Smile fleshed this one out for ‘A Light for Attracting Attention’.
I was curious why Thom re-used the ‘No one gets hurt’ line from ‘Codex’ for it, before realizing this predates that! So cool.
I kinda like that he repeats himself sometimes, like ‘I don’t know why I feel so tongue-tied/I don’t know why I feel so skinned alive’ on ‘Cuttooth’ and ‘Myxomatosis’.
Chase The Art
That's great. Only the true, deep fans would ever acknowledge that - and to them (us!) It's a fun little Easter egg if you will.
Just last night my brother was mentioning to me that this new MF Doom verse on Cheat Codes references his old tunes over and over. Incredible stuff - both here and there.
Shrek2inIMAX3D
Also “there’s another way out” on Mk 2 off of in rainbows b side and waving a white flag.
snoozieboi
Interesting, I think it's entirely their right for whatever reason. I know Beatles and Sting often end songs with lyrics from other songs. Often in early versions things can be placeholder lyrics of course, in my brother's band the singer also had "emergency lyrics" he'd turn to if he forgot where he was in the song :D
Regarding Codex I also find it to be very close to Pyramid song, both are about jumping in a river or lake, not wanting to feel pain.
I remember hearing True Love Waits live on guitar only in Oslo, sept 10th 2001, didn't get published until A Moonshaped Pool(!).
PunkerThor
Anybody else in tears after The Smile performed this?
CL8 ON
Makes me feel glad to be alive. And that maybe all this is real after all.
Sample
It's here!!!
Stuart Reid
Me three, I was at that show and was bang opposite Thom as he sang it. Such an other-worldly experience, up there with seeing them do Videotape at Hammersmith 2 2006 for me.
Lou Chvs
Attended the 2nd show as well, cried my eyes off during this one… That voice is my best friend ❤️
Drenwickification
I was lucky enough to have attended the 2nd show and I was just amazed by this song. I’d never heard it before, but just loved it instantly.