"Stop Whispering" is also one of Radiohead's oldest songs; it was created when the band was still known as "On A Friday", originally being on Dungeon Demo. Radiohead have not performed the song live since the mid-'90s.
The promotional video features Thom Yorke in a very out-of-character style, with blond, shoulder-length hair and wearing a white suit. Since then he has favoured darker clothing and short hair. The video was directed by Jeffery Plansker who would later direct videos for Soundgarden and 10,000 Maniacs. He was also scheduled to direct the unmade video for Nirvana's "Pennyroyal Tea."
Stop Whispering
Radiohead Lyrics
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And the thin man said "I don't want to hear your voice"
And they're cursing me
And they won't let me be
There's nothing to say
And there's nothing to do
Stop whispering, start shouting
Stop whispering, start shouting
And my mother say we don't love you, son some more
And the buildings say let me spit on your face some more
And the feeling is
That there's something wrong
'Cause I can't find the words
And I can't find the song
Stop whispering, start shouting
Stop whispering, start shouting
Dear sir, I have a complaint
Dear sir, I have a complaint
Can't remember what it is
Doesn't matter anyway
Doesn't matter anyway
Stop whispering, stop whispering
Stop whispering, stop whispering, start shouting
In “Stop Whispering,” Radiohead’s second single off their debut album, Pablo Honey, they seem to be calling to break free from the shackles of society’s expectations and traditions. The wise man and the thin man represent conformity and duty, reminding Thom Yorke, the lead singer-songwriter, that he must fit in with society or be ostracized. Yorke’s mother disapproves of him and the buildings are spitting on his face, yet he cannot find the words to express himself. He wants to stop whispering and start shouting to make himself heard, to break free from these accepted conventions, to express himself freely without fear of judgement or punishment.
“Stop Whispering” can be seen as Radiohead's declaration of independence, as the band is calling for a revolution to stop whispering and to start shouting. It symbolizes their frustration with the music industry and their desire to showcase their creative abilities without outside pressures. In the end, the complaint in the song is irrelevant because it doesn't matter anyway. By shouting, they have found their voice and are ready to take on the world.
Overall, “Stop Whispering” is a powerful message about breaking free from society's expectations, and the importance of finding your own voice despite the odds against it.
Line by Line Meaning
And the wise man said "I don't want to hear your voice"
A person who is knowledgeable and experienced does not want to hear what the singer has to say.
And the thin man said "I don't want to hear your voice"
A physically weak person also does not want to listen to the singer.
And they're cursing me
Both the wise man and the thin man are taunting the singer.
And they won't let me be
The singers' thoughts are being interrupted by the wise man and the thin man.
There's nothing to say
The singer has nothing to express.
And there's nothing to do
The singer is leading a dull and uneventful life.
Stop whispering, start shouting
The singer needs to stop speaking softly and start speaking loudly.
And my mother say we don't love you, son some more
The singer's mother is putting the singer down and saying they don't love them anymore.
And the buildings say let me spit on your face some more
The buildings in the surroundings are being abusive towards the singer.
And the feeling is that there's something wrong
There is a sense of something that is not quite right.
'Cause I can't find the words
The singer is unable to express oneself because the appropriate words are not coming to mind.
And I can't find the song
The singer is unable to find the appropriate song to match their feelings.
Dear sir, I have a complaint
The singer has a grievance that they wish to bring to someone's attention.
Can't remember what it is
The singer cannot remember the specifics of their grievance.
Doesn't matter anyway
The outcome of the grievance is not significant to the singer.
Stop whispering, stop whispering
The singer needs to stop speaking softly.
Stop whispering, stop whispering, start shouting
The singer needs to speak loudly and assertively to make their message heard.
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