Subterranean Homesick Alien
Originally called "Uptight," which is how Jonny referred to it in its early… Read Full Bio ↴Originally called "Uptight," which is how Jonny referred to it in its early stages, the song pays homage to Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues." It deals with alien abduction and stems from two incidents in Thom's life. The first occured at Abingdon School, when he was assigned an essay question that went something like this: "If you were an alien from another planet arriving on Earth, how would you describe what you saw?" The second incident occurred when Thom was driving down a country road and hit a bird (which he believes was a pheasant). He stepped out of the car and at that moment began thinking about alien abduction.

Subterranean Homesick Alien
Radiohead Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The breath of the morning
I keep forgetting
The smell of the warm summer air

I live in a town
Where you can't smell a thing
You watch your feet
For cracks in the pavement

Up above
Aliens hover
Making home movies
For the folks back home

Of all these weird creatures
Who lock up their spirits
Drill holes in themselves
And live for their secrets

They're all
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight

Oh

I wish that they'd swoop down in a country lane
Late at night when I'm driving
Take me on board their beautiful ship
Show me the world as I'd love to see it
I'd tell all my friends but they'd never believe me
They'd think that I'd finally lost it completely
I'd show them the stars and the meaning of life
They'd shut me away
But I'd be alright
Alright
I'm alright
Alright

I'm just
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight
Uptight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Radiohead's "Subterranean Homesick Alien" are rich with imagery and exploration of alienation and escapism. The song begins with the singer reflecting on the breath of the morning and the smell of warm summer air, yet quickly transitions to the singer describing life in a town where nothing can be smelled and where they must watch their feet for cracks in the pavement. This sense of disconnection from the world around them sets the tone for the rest of the song.


The singer then describes aliens hovering above them, making home movies for their own kind while observing strange creatures on Earth. The description of these creatures - who "lock up their spirits" and "drill holes in themselves" - is haunting and paints a picture of people who are trapped in their own minds, desperate to escape their own thoughts and emotions.


The chorus of the song is where the theme of escapism is most prevalent. The singer longs for the aliens to take them away on their ship and show them a world they've always dreamed of. However, the singer realizes their friends would never believe them, and they would be dismissed as insane. This paradox perfectly encapsulates the human condition - the longing for escape from the mundane and ordinary, but ultimately always being tethered to the reality of everyday life.


Overall, "Subterranean Homesick Alien" is a powerful song about the desire to escape from oneself and the realities of everyday life, and the limitations of that longing.


Line by Line Meaning

The breath of the morning
The fresh air of the early morning


I keep forgetting
I tend to forget


The smell of the warm summer air
The aroma of the hot air during summer


I live in a town
I reside in a populated area


Where you can't smell a thing
Where there's no refreshing scent


You watch your feet
You're always mindful of where you step


For cracks in the pavement
To avoid breaking the road


Up above
In the sky


Aliens hover
Extraterrestrial beings flying


Making home movies
Recording videos for personal consumption


For the folks back home
For their loved ones


Of all these weird creatures
Of strange and peculiar beings


Who lock up their spirits
Who withhold their emotions and soul


Drill holes in themselves
Poke openings in their bodies


And live for their secrets
And keep their mysteries sacred


They're all
They all are


Uptight
Tense and anxious


Uptight
Fidgety and uneasy


Uptight
Nervous and apprehensive


Uptight
Stressed and worried


Uptight
Tightly coiled and on edge


Uptight
Agitated and restless


Oh
Interjection expressing surprise or emotion


I wish that they'd swoop down in a country lane
I desire that they'd descend in a rural road


Late at night when I'm driving
During nighttime as I'm travelling


Take me on board their beautiful ship
Bring me inside their exquisite vessel


Show me the world as I'd love to see it
Reveal the universe how I'd love to experience it


I'd tell all my friends but they'd never believe me
I'd inform my companions but they'd doubt me


They'd think that I'd finally lost it completely
They'd assume that I've gone completely crazy


I'd show them the stars and the meaning of life
I'd demonstrate to them the celestial objects and purpose of existence


They'd shut me away
They'd isolate me


But I'd be alright
But I'd cope with it


Alright
All good


I'm alright
I'm okay


Alright
Not problematic


I'm just
I'm only


Uptight
Anxious and tense


Uptight
Edgy and nervous


Uptight
Uncomfortable and uneasy


Uptight
Tightly wound up


Uptight
Stressed and fretful


Uptight
On edge and jittery


Uptight
Apprehensive and worried


Uptight
Agitated and restless




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
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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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