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)
Sinking Ship
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel the boat
it's harboring unto her brown
sinking ship, man the lifeboats
hold your nose, watch me drown
I'm the captain of the boat
but I don't like being slaughtered I'm the captain of the boat
but I don't like this way I'm slaughtered
hey I'm a sinking man
on a sinking ship
and this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking now
on the sinking ship
and this stinking bloody job is all I have
don't waste all your days
pretending that you're still afloat
time comes, you will see
that all this drowning is your own
I'm the captain of the boat
but I don't like being slaughtered
I'm the captain of the boat
but I don't like this way I'm slaughtered
hey I'm a sinking man
on a sinking ship
and this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking now on the sinking ship
and this stinking bloody job is all I have
don't waste all your days
pretending that you're still afloat
time comes, you will see
that all this drowning is your own
hey I'm a sinking man
on a sinking ship
and this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking now
on the sinking ship
and this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking man
I'm sinking man
I'm sinking man
I'm sinking man
let's get our act together
and get this boat off of the shore
The lyrics of Radiohead's Sinking Ship talk about the feeling of being trapped in a sinking ship, with no way out, no options left, and nobody but yourself to blame. The captain of the ship is aware of the impending doom, but still unable to act upon it. He is aware of his role in the ship's downfall, but still unable to take responsibility, merely trying to hold on to the stinking, bloody job that defines him. The lyrics also hint at the futile nature of denying one's problems, pretending to be okay, and not facing reality, as one has to face one's own drowning at the end of the day.
Overall, the song speaks to the feeling of desperation, hopelessness, and suffocation that one may feel when trapped in a situation they cannot escape. It also shows the personal responsibility that comes with leadership and the reluctance to take responsibility when everything is falling apart.
Line by Line Meaning
hard to port
The ship is being turned left or towards the port side
I can feel the boat
The captain is sensing the movement of the ship
it's harboring unto her brown
The ship is approaching a shallow area
sinking ship, man the lifeboats
The ship is sinking and the crew should prepare the lifeboats
hold your nose, watch me drown
The captain is accepting his fate to drown as the ship sinks
I'm the captain of the boat but I don't like being slaughtered
The captain is responsible for the ship and its crew, but he doesn't like that they are in danger
hey I'm a sinking man on a sinking ship and this stinking bloody job is all I have
The captain is feeling trapped in his job on this sinking ship
don't waste all your days pretending that you're still afloat time comes, you will see that all this drowning is your own
Don't try to ignore your problems and pretend everything is fine because eventually you will have to face the consequences
let's get our act together and get this boat off of the shore
The captain is calling for the crew to work together to save the ship
Contributed by Henry J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tonyonafriday
such a jolly little tune from a promising band!
@VikemDaft
Hard to port
I can feel the boat
It's harboring unto her brown
Sinking ship, man the lifeboats
Hold your nose, watch me drown
I'm the captain of the boat
But I don't like being slaughtered
I'm the captain of the boat
But I don't like this way I'm slaughtered
Hey I'm a sinking man
On a sinking ship
And this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking now
On the sinking ship
And this stinking bloody job is all I have
Don't waste all your days
Pretending that you're still afloat
Time comes, you will see
That all this drowning is your own
I'm the captain of the boat
But I don't like being slaughtered
I'm the captain of the boat
But I don't like this way I'm slaughtered
Hey I'm a sinking man
On a sinking ship
And this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking now
On the sinking ship
And this stinking bloody job is all I have
Don't waste all your days
Pretending that you're still afloat
Time comes, you will see
That all this drowning is your own
Hey I'm a sinking man
On a sinking ship
And this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking now
On the sinking ship
And this stinking bloody job is all I have
I'm sinking man
I'm sinking man
I'm sinking man
I'm sinking man
Let's get our act together
And get this boat off of the shore
@Beantbeantbeant
sounds like the stone roses ;)