Released - 16 April 2011
Format - 12"
Recorded - 2011
Genre - Experimental
Length - 11:42
Label - Ticker Tape Ltd
Supercollider
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dust in a moment
Particles scatter
Parting from the soup
Swimming upstream
Before the heavens crack open
Thin pixelations
In a blue light
In a green light
In a half light
In a work light
In a B-spin
Flip flopping
In a pulse wave
Outstepping
To put the shadows back into
The boxes
I am open
I am welcome
For a fraction
Of a second
I have jettisoned my illusions
I have dislodged my depressions
I put the shadows back into
The boxes
The opening lines of the song Supercollider by Radiohead already set the tone for the entire piece. The mention of a super collider evokes a sense of grandiosity and the unknown, something that is beyond human control. The next lines “Dust in a moment, particles scatter” add to this sense of grandiosity, and further emphasize the theme of fleetingness in life. The imagery of “Particles scattering/parting from the soup” is both evocative and ambiguous, but it suggests the idea of breaking down and dissociation.
Moving on, the lyrics talk about “Swimming upstream,” which can be interpreted as going against the tide or working hard to reach a destination, and pushes this idea even further with the lines “Before the heavens crack open, thin pixelations, coming out from the dust.” Here, the heavens can be seen as a metaphor for an obstacle, and the “thin pixelations coming from the dust” can be interpreted as The light at the end of the tunnel or the important things that one finds at the end of the journey.
In the chorus of the song, the focus shifts to a series of different lights, each one possessing an almost supernatural feeling. The following verses evoke more imagery that is evocative but ambiguous, and we can glean the idea of contrasts and going against the norm. The parts where “I have jettisoned my illusions” and “I have dislodged my depressions” create the impression of a weight lifted off the listener's shoulders.
Line by Line Meaning
Super collider
Life, like a super collider, moves fast, powerful, and sometimes dangerous
Dust in a moment
Life and every moment in it is as ephemeral as dust in the wind
Particles scatter
Things, like particles, disintegrate, move away, and reorganize themselves
Parting from the soup
Things, like the particles in the universe, get separated from the matter that binds them
Swimming upstream
Going against the current, facing adversity, and doing things differently
Before the heavens crack open
Before something major happens or before a pivotal moment occurs
Thin pixelations
The makeup of the universe at a subatomic level, which is fine and indefinite
Coming out from the dust
The universe, as it is constructed, comes from dust, chaos, and randomness
In a blue light
Life, as seen in a calm and soothing blue light, can seem tranquil and heavenly
In a green light
Life, as seen in a vibrant green light, can seem lively, full of growth, and flourishing
In a half light
Life, as seen in a dim half light, can seem confusing, murky, and hard to navigate
In a work light
Life, as seen in a harsh work light, can seem institutionalized, uniform, and robotic
In a B-spin
Life, like a B-spin, can change direction rapidly and unexpectedly
Flip flopping
Changing one's mind, wavering, or being unsure about something
In a pulse wave
The constant, rhythmic beat of life that goes on, whether we are aware of it or not
Outstepping
Going beyond one's limits, exploring new horizons, and taking chances
To put the shadows back into The boxes
To suppress one's dark or negative thoughts and to hide them away out of sight
I am open
Being receptive, accepting, and open-minded
I am welcome
Feeling appreciated, acknowledged, and accepted by others
For a fraction Of a second
For a brief, fleeting moment when things seem to be in perfect harmony
I have jettisoned my illusions
Letting go of one's preconceptions, delusions, and false ideas about the world
I have dislodged my depressions
Releasing one's inner turmoil, sadness, and anxieties about the world
I put the shadows back into The boxes
The repetition of this refrain indicates that the singer is not entirely successful in hiding their negative thoughts away
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS EDWARD YORKE, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@satyamtiwari7946
Supercollider
Dust in a moment
Particles scatter
Coming up from the soup
Swimming upstream
Before the heavens crack open
Thin pixelations
Coming up from the dust
In a blue light
In a green light
In a half light
In a work light
I'm a B-spin
Flip-flopping
I'm a pulse wave
Outstepping
[Chorus]
I put the shadows back into their boxes
[Verse 2]
I am open
I am welcome
For a fraction
Of a second
I have jettisoned(Supercollider)
My illusions(Dust in a moment)
I have dislodged(Particles scatter)
My depressions(Parting out from the soup)
[Chorus]
I put the shadows back into their boxes
I put the shadows back into their boxes
[Outro]
I see angels hanging over the balcony
I see angels hanging over the balcony
I see angels hanging over the balcony
SHARE THE LYRICS
@ZER0TV
When I was 14 years old I had panic attacks on a daily basis. This song never helped me but hey, it's a good song.
@G8tr1522
lololol
@robrober2
This comment is off the rails.
@DuringDark
ZER0TV would you say they were... Low flying?!
@ZER0TV
ayyy
@G8tr1522
arse hole got em
@KazziKolorZz
That's what I love most about Radiohead. The more you listen to it the more amazing it gets.
@louisaklimentos7583
Their songs are so haunting but relaxing at the same time .
@pushthetempo2
The greatest band in the last 25 years, no doubt
@julianalvarez7086
+J T (Insert Walter White's "you're goddamn right" GIF here)