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)
Sit Down Stand Up
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sit down, stand up
Walk into the jaws of hell
(Sit down)
Walk into the jaws of hell
(Stand up)
Anytime
Anytime
(Stand up)
Sit down, stand up
Sit down
We can wipe you out anytime
(Stand up)
We can wipe you out
(Sit down)
Anytime
Anytime
Stand up
Sit down
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
The raindrops
Sit Down. Stand Up by Radiohead is a haunting song that uses repeated and contrasting phrases to create a sense of impending doom. The chorus consists of just two lines: "Sit down, stand up," which are repeated several times throughout the song. This repetition demands the listener's attention and draws them into the song's world of tension and unease.
The reference to walking "into the jaws of hell" suggests that the song is about facing danger and moving forward even when you know there is a risk involved. The lyrics "we can wipe you out anytime" and "the raindrops" create a sense of powerlessness and vulnerability. The repetition of "anytime" in the chorus emphasizes the idea that danger could strike at any moment, and we need to be prepared to face it.
The song's lyrics seem to be about standing up to authority or societal pressures, even if it means walking into danger. The repeated phrases and contrasting ideas create a sense of unease and nervous energy, making Sit Down. Stand Up an unforgettable listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Sit down, stand up
The singer is commanding the audience to alternate between sitting down and standing up.
Walk into the jaws of hell
The singer is urging the audience to take on dangerous and potentially deadly challenges.
(Sit down)
The audience is instructed to sit down.
(Stand up)
The audience is instructed to stand up.
Anytime
The danger that the audience is facing can occur at any moment, hence the need for constant readiness.
Sit down, stand up
The singer reiterates the need for the audience to constantly alternate between sitting down and standing up.
We can wipe you out anytime
The singer is reminding the audience of their vulnerability and the potential for complete destruction at any moment.
We can wipe you out
The artist repeats the idea of complete destruction at the hands of an opposing force.
(Sit down)
The audience is instructed again to take a seat.
Anytime
The danger the audience is facing can occur at any moment.
Anytime
Same as before, the audience's constant readiness is emphasized.
Stand up
The audience is instructed to stand up once again.
Sit down
The audience is instructed to take a seat once more.
The raindrops
This line may signify a sudden or unexpected occurrence that the audience is not prepared to face.
The raindrops
The line is repeated, emphasizing the sudden and unexpected nature of the event.
The raindrops
This line is repeated many times, possibly as a form of emphasis, or to create a sense of anxiety or dread.
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