Subterranean Homesick Alien by Radiohead

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 Read Full BioOriginally 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.

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01Airbag4:44

02Paranoid Android6:23

03Subterranean Homesick Alien4:27

PT4M27S

Radiohead

04Exit Music (for a Film)4:24

09Climbing Up the Walls4:45

10No Surprises3:48

11Lucky4:19

12The Tourist5:24

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Subterranean Homesick Alien
by Radiohead

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

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

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

Comments from YouTube:

Pentex Sucks

24w↑260

This song makes me wish I could float, it's like zero gravity for your ears

The Muffin Man

Dont ever listen to it after half a handle and a six pack.

C.L. Breese

Yeeeessss

Red Sly

3w↑1

thats how i visualized it as well, zero gravity or floating in an infinite source of water just in the middle of nowhere looking upwards

Jurij Avsenak

5w↑1

I CANT GET ENOUGH OF IT...

JustAnotherGuy FromTheNorth

Pentex Sucks Try some Ketamine

2 More Replies...

Scretch Cet

24w↑329

Jonny: So what guitar effects should we use on this song?
Thom: Yes.

Víctor Sepúlveda

El paneo es un poco raro

Bryan Guillen

@dread true stfu

dread true

4w↑1

Scretch Cet
"Yes" is not a Guitar effect, was a prog-rock band from the 70s.

bip bong

9w↑2

Luc ky nah it’s Ed dawg

Dr lol

17w↑11

I mean they used delay, wobble, and reverb. Pretty much everything on the table without overdrive, distortion or electronic ones like eq.

2 More Replies...

Roiy Benkel

24w↑165

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.. [x7]

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 all right
All right..

I'm just uptight
Uptight.. [x7]

Michelle Enderink

10w↑2

I love this song and every part of it. But the most catchiest part is "up above, alien hover"

Faye McCormick

20w↑104

remember when the only version of this song on youtube was that weird ass martian video?

Guy Fieri

4w↑1

YOOO FACTS

zeca `

10w↑2

@Faye McCormick oh thank you :D that was quick! You're great!

Faye McCormick

10w↑1

zeca ` https://youtu.be/8oJY3K-jVJ0

zeca `

10w

Could you share it? Please

Mystery Mole

11w↑1

Yea man. I really liked that vid

1 More Replies...

Jua Rever

24w↑172

this one right here, this is the song that convinced me to hear all of Radiohead's discography. what a voyage it was,Thanks, Radiohead!

Rage300

7w↑1

I'm a Ben folds five person, but I just thought I'd listen through this entire album. Not a huge fan of this genre, but I thought why not?

Also, you should check out whatever and ever amen by Ben folds five. Shameless advertising.

jonobrow

14w↑4

Agreed. Radiohead's music varies somewhat in ingenuity, but there's something about this song that you just can't imagine ANY other band coming up with. As soon as I heard it I knew this was a band worth investing time into.

Ø G

16w

Jua Rever same here as well, along with House of Cards and Decks Dark

Jua Rever

20w↑1

@Beepbeep Lettuce (Nice Dream) is the other one, although the first one i ever heard was "Black Star".

Beepbeep Lettuce

20w↑5

Same here

Gorfo De Mensagem

23w↑89

That guitar riff is the most majestic thing in the world

Dracubus

23w↑65

I can't even begin to describe how many memories flood my mind when I hear the first two seconds of this. Forever my favorite Radiohead song.

funkydankspliff

Summer of 2008 going to blaze and swim at my friends house every day, will never forget

Sandra Tello

24w↑124

This intro and outro are one of the most beautiful things ever created. 😍

bano chase

19w

@LightSh0w I really like a lot of starsailor and damian rice also I think radiohead can help round out my top three for sure.

LightSh0w

20w↑1

@bano chase in my opinion the best band of all time!

bano chase

21w↑3

they may be in the top three bands of the last thirty years imo. top five for sure.

Arkham Tuncer

21w↑1

Pure perfection!! :)

Niccolò Lanzoni

22w↑54

This is just goosebumps. Ffs what a beauty. More than music, this is an emotional roller-coaster.

Juan Luis Cubero

11w↑1

Ffs?

Abduljaleel Asani

23w↑58

That synth gets me feeling homesick for a place I've never been to.

Kevin Hoff

18w↑3

well said

Nicolas Fernandez

22w↑5

Hiraeth!

Reynaldo Gloria

21w↑35

Isolation while people surround you.

Sol Gámez Soto

6w↑5

Now you know what isolation looks like ....

Qué Mira Sapo

17w↑1

Hey hey stranger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ekin Elbaşı

24w↑58

They'd think that I'd finally lost it completely

Scott Shull

4y↑424

this song is Bob Dylan on LSD while having a orgy with Pink Floyd while The Beatles watch, not joining in just watching

dread true

L
Youre right, its named after a Dylan song.
But musically and lyrically no.

leah

dread true it’s named after a bob dylan song tho lol

dread true

This song seems more they were listening to indie Groups like Cocteau Twins lol
Bob Dylan ? No, Cocteau Twins lyrics also, and a few more indie bands.

getoutofherestalker

5w↑1

and this comment is unfunny and retarded

Paul Wilde

Early U2 and 1990s era U2 was superb in an experimental sense by any band's measure.

14 More Replies...

Carlos Beltrán Ruiloba

11w↑18

proper for quarantine... I guess.

Angel Martinez

24w↑63

Decks Dark’s happier upbeat cousin

A.K.

17w↑1

"Happier upbeat" only for Radiohead lol

Dark Requiem

24w↑10

Decks Dark is more like Subterranean Homesick Alien’s child.

StrikE

23w↑78

First time i heard this song i thought the chorus was "im tired!", hope im not the only one...

Bruno Marques Serrano

7w↑1

Like an ordinary brazilian, i sang 'outside'. What a shame!!!

saptak

now i just can't unhear it!

Michelle Enderink

10w

I love this song and every part. But the most catchiest is the "alien hover" part

Oscar Zurdo

11w↑1

for some reason i thought it was "oxide", and never understood it...

Aditya Deo

16w↑1

I first thought it was 'i was high' lol.

7 More Replies...

psychicsalt

24w↑71

my favorite radiohead song 👽

Vernell Thomas

4y↑41

This song here took me far away to the distant galaxies! Amongst all the beautiful unknown high and low especially in the deep blue sea.....all types of different beings

Arkham Tuncer

21w

Best song to turn blue!! ;)

Sour Times

24w↑32

One of the best radiohead songs, no dubt

strathgarda

20w↑16

I've always thought of this as one of their most positive songs. It's not happy, but it's a song about daydreams and hope for a brighter future. Very different from their usual doom-and-gloom.

Salvale

21w↑20

LYRICS:

Johnny’s in the basement mixin up th- oh wait wrong song my bad

Travels in Chinese

21w

This is definitely not that song! Both amazing, though.

The man with the plan

19w↑14

I used to listen to this over and over

air maxy

The man with the plan I used to pee a lot I drink water

Dank Nuggets

20w↑10

Oh my god the atmosphere

Pastarasta1 The Drawing Goober That Draws

24w↑25

So glad I can listen to this song again

Beepbeep Lettuce

20w↑2

Me too! Thanks Youtube

Zack Zallie

16w↑9

The most psychedelic Radiohead song ever.

GentleBen

23w↑24

They think that I've finally lost it completely

Moe Salamander

22w↑22

Please listen for the lyrics. It gives the instrumental so much more meaning

Scott Chegg

20w↑10

This song reminds me of my childhood. All the American, animated movies in set in perfect little suburbia’s. Makes this song so surreal.

Abhay Mishra

wow thats absurd how this song connects to it...does make it seem surreal

Acquiescence

12w↑9

Radiohead at their most cosmic. I wish they'd write more songs akin to this.

Danny Allen

16w↑7

“They think that I’ve finally lost it completely” - my friends when I show them Radiohead... too bad. They’re the ones missing out.

Firat

22w↑10

contrary to radiohead's other pieces, this song gives me good vibes

Helena Gutierrez

12w↑6

official daydreaming soundtrack

UntitledKirk

16w↑6

Some of the most beautiful lyrics Thom has ever written, in my opinion.

mmtz

6w↑2

The intro has been stuck in my head all this time. Crazy how i got so many memories by listening to it for a few seconds. My childhood

WaveOnn

24w↑10

Uptight!

Dark Requiem

17w↑5

I feel so deep into space when hearing this.

Theodore J Mariner

20w↑6

Radiohead is so amazing on so many levels. The sad thing is so many people don't even realize it

Fish seabass

23w↑6

Probably their best music

Yoyok Kusumo

2w↑1

When I listen this song with close eyes looks like feel falling down from up to down

Cheesy Hfj

9w↑5

This song, as well as No Surprises gives me a really strange emotion. This album was made 7 years prior to my own birth, yet it feels like I've lived in that time in some other lifetime out there. It's like nostalgia, but for something you were never born to experience.

Andika Putri

Yes! I thought about that too

Wet Paint

love this!

Necro Orcen

21w↑8

How do you even write a song like this?? Its so left field of everything else out there. Much like all their music

BlueBot Livingston

Practice.

Bo Dylan

23w↑5

Shout out to those who side with love working down down under, keeping their cool; ready, willing, and able to act when its their Que.
And shout out to those with clones who dont want clones. The reality of being homesick is felt on both sides; even to those lost to it. To those who want it back, and to those who have reformed their foundation in THIS planet earth)s)s)s)s...
#YORKEISAGOODONE #JUSTDOESNTTALKABOUTIT
#SCAREDOFTHEQUEEN
#MUSICINDUSTRYCANEASILYBEOUTOFTHEIRCONTROL.

Jackson Vasconcelos

8w↑2

More than 20 years after the release I am still indignant of how good this record is

Jeson Mathews

7w↑1

Suits perfectly with Coronavirus lockdown.

개비정한세상

23w↑11

Jayson McEwen

24w↑13

Ethereal.

Bohemian Dream

This song shows me the world as I’d love to see it...
The sounds of my soul

RL R

The Rhodes parts in this song are simply wonderful. So is he sound of Selway's bass drum.

Stephen Lucas

23w↑4

Thank you so much for this... So much.

LoveTheKeyOfLife

10w↑2

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

Norberto Velazquez

9w↑1

One of the best albums ever!!

rounder104

My favorite Radiohead song. You ever been to space man?

עופר מרחב

16w↑1

The best album ever made

Stixman415

I feel like I'm floating while listening to this song

Wait why is my head touching the ceiling?

István Balatoni

IMO this is the best Radiohead song, let alone one of the best music ever

ausfreak9313

18w↑3

This album brings me back to the me it created

Hanto :]

10w↑3

idk why i love so much the moment when he says "i'd tell all my friends but they'd never believed me"

U Tuba

My friend, I don't believe you ;)

getoutofherestalker

5w↑2

Used to listen to this while walking home after therapy.

Isaac the PSI Tactician

8w↑1

Easily the best song on the album

Henry R. Damian

my favorite song of this album

Carlos Alvarez

Me gustaría escucharla en un recital ! ..tremenda composición alienígena

electrotherapy

Thanks Thom York ed Greenwood and crew.. you've literally AND metaphorically SAVED MY LIFE.

Sarita Chaparro

Radiohead= Genius 💖✨🙌🎵

Wilmer Amador Aguilar

16w↑1

Sounds like parasite by legendary Nick Drake

Carlos Alvarez

Impresión obra maestra,el sonido de la guitarra ,la voz de Tom ...en fin todo !

Taylor Novia

My favorite parts the whole song.

Davi Duarte

So far the names of songs in this album are like painting names lol

Not You

19w

this track is special, it just puts you on a different planet high in the sky. its not grating or harsh and just improves on everything that was lacking in the previous tracks on the album. not much else to say, 9/10.

Yassine Hachad

20w↑2

it beautiful dark and hollow u can hear it echoing inside of you

Carlos Rodríguez

8w↑1

I want learn play the guitar

FearHater

10w

This lyrics with this guitar here ....no words !

개비정한세상

17w↑4

wearenowintheprocess

24w↑3

About damn time!

Norberto Velazquez

Yes on you tube finally!!

phillip st

12w↑1

this song reminds me of slaughterhouse number five

lukestanworthuk83

14w↑1

well done radiohead for finally relenting and letting the utube community enjoy your stuff. bout goddamnnn time

nederlandse

14w

The first like forty seconds of this song sort of reminds me of ghosts are rude and zombies are attacking by emmanoodle

Arkham Tuncer

21w

FR33 FOUR/EVER!! ;)

Michael Pikul

I believe that radio head was contacted by these interdenominational travelers,, and then were downloaded with the ability to make o.k.compurer and share it with us..,
You know the whole deal with there label blah blah blah, you know what z up

eli hdz

15w

Sin comentarios necesito leer la letra en subtitulos

Edward Bliss

This song makes me immune to Coronavirus

nick parilac

Comparable to any Floyd tune out there.. float on by...

John Dualé

12w↑5

If Thom Yorke showed me the stars and the meaning of life, I would damn well listen.

ulvn

12w

reminds me of we are the ants a little bit

I'm Only Sleeping

12w

No bad song on this album, how?

Jackaronni

UNDER GROUND BOY HERE

Bijoy Pandey

9w↑1

IM TIRED... IM TIRED

Cherie Herring

I thought he was singing I'm tired for years! He' actually saying Uptight!

Junior Chacón

17w

Radiohead Magnum Opus

Lh Mullins

I liked Pablo Honey when it came out in 1993 but when I heard their follow up album,The Bends 1995 my senior year of high school..From then on I've been a die hard Radiohead fan...The 1990s were a time when great music and genres evented,played and mastered by real singer songwriters themselves or with their exceptionally great muscians...

Kirk Wolfe

STRANGE NEWS FROM ANOTHER STAR, BLUR.

Suzy Maloney

12w

First three albums are the best!

Jon Raggett

12w↑3

No way Pablo Honey is as good as In Rainbows or Kid A

Ri Wa

14w↑1

love

Max Chukhlib

21w↑2

My problem is that I can't find any other album as beautiful as OK Computer

Max Chukhlib

17w

@Ephemeral • thanks!

Max Chukhlib

21w

@L I L B L A R T I listened to OK Computer, In Rainbows and literally the whole discography already for a bunch of times. I need smth new

Paul Wilde

Forget Paranoid Android - great song but it's Just mixed with a bit of Exit Music on steroids. This song stood out as a leap forward in creating beautiful songs of disassociation. Although it had Nice Dream as a kind of precedent.

Julian Hitchen

If you've got your eyes on a set of speakers you really fancy and aren't sure whether they're worth the hard cash just listen to this song once you've taken the dive and it'll reassure you.