The Gloaming
Radiohead Lyrics


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Genie let out the bottle
It is now the witching hour
Genie let out the bottle
It is now the witching hour

Murderers you're murderers
We are not the same as you
Genie let out the bottle
Funny ha ha funny how

When the walls bend
When the walls bend
With your breathing
With your breathing

When the walls bend
When the walls bend
With your breathing
With your breathing
With your breathing

They will suck you down
To the other side
They will suck you down
To the other side
They will suck you down
To the other side
They will suck you down
To the other side

To the shadows blue and red
Shadows blue and red
Your alarm bells
Your alarm bells

Shadows blue and red
Shadows blue and red
Your alarm bells
Your alarm bells

They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing
They should be ringing





This is the gloaming

Overall Meaning

"The Gloaming" is a song that explores the concept of the "witching hour," the time when supernatural forces and magic are said to be at their most powerful. The lyrics begin with the idea of a genie being let out of a bottle, a common trope in stories about magical beings. With the genie out, it is now the witching hour, suggesting that something powerful and dangerous has been unleashed.


The song then takes a darker turn with the line "Murderers you're murderers, we are not the same as you." It's unclear who the murderers are, but they are clearly distinct from the singer and are somehow linked to the supernatural forces at work. The second verse returns to the idea of the walls bending with breathing, which could be interpreted as a sense of suffocation or a feeling of being trapped.


The chorus reinforces the idea that there are powerful forces at work and that those who are not careful will be sucked down to the other side. The shadows of blue and red, along with the alarm bells that should be ringing, create a sense of danger and urgency. The song ends with the repeated phrase "This is the gloaming," a reminder of the mysterious and potentially dangerous time of day that the song explores.


Line by Line Meaning

Genie let out the bottle
A force has been unleashed that cannot be unmade.


It is now the witching hour
A time of darkness and dread has arrived.


Murderers you're murderers
You have caused death and destruction and we are not like you.


We are not the same as you
You are not like us and we are not like you.


Funny ha ha funny how
An ironic observation about how things have turned out.


When the walls bend
Reality is distorted and uncertain.


With your breathing
Your every movement affects the distortion.


They will suck you down
The unknown and dangerous will engulf you.


To the other side
To a place of uncertainty and potential danger.


To the shadows blue and red
To darkness and the possibility of violence and bloodshed.


Your alarm bells
Your warning signals that caution is needed.


They should be ringing
You should be alert and aware of the danger.


This is the gloaming
This is a time of uncertainty and danger.




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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