Rabbit in Your Headlights
Radiohead Lyrics


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I'm a rabbit in your headlights
Scared of the spotlight
You don't come to visit
I'm stuck in this bed

Thin rubber gloves
She laughs when she's crying
She cries when she's laughing
Fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away

I'm a rabbit in your headlights
Christian suburbanite
Washed down the toilet
Money to burn
Fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away

White worms on the underground
Caught between stations
Butter fingers
I'm losing my patience

I'm a rabbit in your headlights
Christian suburbanite
You got money to burn
Fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away


Away

Overall Meaning

The song "Rabbit in Your Headlights" by Radiohead is a haunting and intense composition that reflects on the feeling of being trapped, helpless, and lost. The opening lines, "I'm a rabbit in your headlights, scared of the spotlight," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is likened to a rabbit, a prey animal, that is caught in the glare of headlights, unable to move or escape. The spotlight becomes a metaphor for the pressure of society and the feeling of being scrutinized, judged, and exposed.


The verses describe a sense of isolation and emotional turmoil. The singer is stuck in a bed, unable to find a way out, while thin rubber gloves and fat bloody fingers suggest a sense of unease, pain and struggle. The female character is presented as a paradox, laughing and crying at the same time, highlighting the mixed emotions and the blurred lines between sanity and madness. The Christian suburbanite and the mention of money to burn indicate the privilege of the singer, yet their life is shown to be drained away.


The chorus repeats the phrase "fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away," and serves as a haunting reminder of the singer's impending doom. The song also mentions the white worms on the underground and being caught between stations, which could again symbolize the feeling of being stuck in a life that offers no escape or direction. Overall, "Rabbit in Your Headlights" is a deeply introspective track that highlights the complexity of the human psyche and the difficulties that come with living in a society that constantly demands perfection and conformity.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm a rabbit in your headlights
I'm vulnerable and scared, easily overwhelmed by the pressures of life.


Scared of the spotlight
I'm afraid of being in the public eye and the scrutiny that comes with it.


You don't come to visit
I feel alone, unsupported and disconnected from those who should be there for me.


I'm stuck in this bed
I'm paralyzed and unable to move on from my current situation.


Thin rubber gloves
Something that should protect me is too flimsy and inadequate.


She laughs when she's crying
The tears mask a deeper pain, but nobody sees it because I put on a brave face.


She cries when she's laughing
I try to put on a happy face, but inside I'm hurting and sometimes it spills out unexpectedly.


Fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away
Something or someone is draining me of life and vitality, leaving me empty and exhausted.


Christian suburbanite
I'm part of the mainstream culture, but I'm also aware of its flaws and contradictions.


Washed down the toilet
My life is going down the drain, and I feel powerless to stop it.


Money to burn
I have financial resources, but they don't bring me happiness or fulfillment.


White worms on the underground
I feel dirty and contaminated, struggling to find hope in a dark and oppressive world.


Caught between stations
I'm in a state of transition and uncertainty, not sure where I'm going or what my future holds.


Butter fingers
I'm clumsy and prone to making mistakes, struggling to find my footing in life.


I'm losing my patience
I'm tired of waiting and struggling, wishing for something to change or improve.


You got money to burn
You have wealth and privilege, but you're not immune to the struggles of life and the human condition.


Away
I feel trapped and helpless, longing for escape or release from my current situation.




Contributed by Nathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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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

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