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)
Permanent Daylight
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't believe that I returned
Loose threads still they sew
It's just I can't believe that we returned
Let's get out
Out
Will you come out with me?
The lyrics of Radiohead's "Permanent Daylight" convey the feeling of being trapped or stuck, represented through knots and threads that still linger despite attempts to untie or unravel them. The repetition of "I can't believe that I/we returned" adds to this sense of dissatisfaction and an inability to move forward. The lines "Let's get out/Out" are a cry for escape, a desire to break free from this state of stagnation. The final line, "Will you come out with me?" suggests a desire for companionship, a hope that someone will join the singer in their quest for liberation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Permanent Daylight" paint a picture of a person or group of people who feel trapped or restrained in some way. The imagery of knots and threads suggest a history or past that continues to weigh them down, and the repeated phrase "I can't believe we returned" suggests a sense of regret or frustration with previous attempts to leave this state behind. The final lines offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting that escape is possible with a companion by one's side.
Line by Line Meaning
Loose ropes still tied knots
Despite the loose ropes, they still maintain their knots, indicating that despite the attempts at freedom, certain circumstances cannot be escaped or changed.
I can't believe that I returned
The singer is astonished that they returned to their previous state, perhaps after a period of attempted change or growth.
Loose threads still they sew
The presence of loose threads, combined with their continuing sewing, suggests the persistence of problems or issues even as they are being addressed.
It's just I can't believe that we returned
The artist is emphasizing their disbelief at the fact that they and others have returned to a previous state despite trying to move forward or change.
Let's get out
This line serves as an urgent call to action or escape from a negative situation or circumstance.
Out
A simple, emphatic repetition of the previous line, adding weight to the desire to escape or leave.
Will you come out with me?
A plea for someone to join the singer in taking action to escape or change circumstances, with the implication that it may be difficult to do so alone.
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
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