Radiohead signed to EMI in 1991 and released their debut album, Pablo Honey, in 1993; their debut single, "Creep", became a worldwide hit. Radiohead's popularity and critical standing rose with the release of The Bends in 1995. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), brought them international fame; noted for its complex production and themes of modern alienation, it is acclaimed as a landmark record and one of the best albums in popular music.
Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A (2000), marked a dramatic change in style, incorporating influences from electronic music, jazz, classical music and krautrock. Though Kid A divided listeners, it later attracted wide acclaim. It was followed by Amnesiac (2001), recorded in the same sessions. Hail to the Thief (2003), with lyrics addressing the War on Terror, was Radiohead's final album for EMI.
Radiohead self-released their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), as a download for which customers could set their own price, to critical and chart success. Their eighth album, The King of Limbs (2011), an exploration of rhythm, was developed using extensive looping and sampling. A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) prominently featured Jonny Greenwood's orchestral arrangements. Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Selway, and O'Brien have released solo albums; in 2021, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood debuted a new band, the Smile.
By 2011, Radiohead had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Their awards include six Grammy Awards and four Ivor Novello Awards, and they hold five Mercury Prize nominations, the most of any act. Seven Radiohead singles have reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart: "Creep" (1992), "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" (1996), "Paranoid Android" (1997), "Karma Police" (1997), "No Surprises" (1998), "Pyramid Song" (2001), and "There There" (2003). "Creep" and "Nude" (2008) reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone named Radiohead one of the 100 greatest artists of all time, and Rolling Stone readers voted them the second-best artist of the 2000s. Five Radiohead albums have been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time lists. Radiohead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead
Studio albums
Pablo Honey (1993)
The Bends (1995)
OK Computer (1997)
Significant Other (1999)
Kid A (2000)
Amnesiac (2001)
Hail to the Thief (2003)
In Rainbows (2007)
The King of Limbs (2011)
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)
To Be A Brilliant Light
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the time of life I've reached
I'm getting pretty old
I should be reaching my peak
But I haven't made the stairs yet
But you know what mean girls say
If you haven't got it when you're thirty
That's the way you stay
I can wash and clean the bedrooms
I can make some egg and toast
If you let me stay the night
Then I'll let you get some rest
We could talk awhile on the futon
If that's the way you want it
Tell me where you want me
Tell me where to sit
Where to start to build a clock
Yeah, I depended on you i depended on you
To be a brilliant light yeah
To be a brilliant light
To be a brilliant light yeah
To be a brilliant light
Bring me in the church
On the corner of your street
I'll be praying for forgiveness
I'll be praying for some love
Because I haven't got a job
And my heart's been closed
You could start with the trousers
'cause it's what's stopping the blood flow
Where to start to build a clock
I depended on you i depended on you
To be a brilliant light yeah
To be a brilliant light
To be a brilliant light yeah
To be a brilliant light, oh
To be a brilliant light
To be a brilliant light
To be a brilliant light
The lyrics of "To Be A Brilliant Light" by Radiohead touch on themes of insecurity, aging, and the desire for validation and purpose. In the song, the singer expresses worry and anxiety about reaching a certain stage in life and not achieving the expected milestones. They feel like time is passing them by, and they haven't reached their full potential.
The mention of "mean girls" implies that there is societal pressure to have accomplished certain things by a particular age. The line "If you haven't got it when you're thirty, that's the way you stay" suggests that there is a belief that if one hasn't achieved success by a certain age, they might be stuck in a state of stagnation.
The singer then offers their assistance and support to someone, mentioning everyday tasks like cleaning and cooking. This could symbolize their willingness to be there for someone and provide comfort, even if they are struggling with their own issues. The mention of talking on a futon indicates a desire for a deeper connection and understanding.
The repeated line "To be a brilliant light" can be interpreted in a few ways. It could be a plea to the person they are speaking to, asking them to be a guiding light or source of inspiration. It could also be a self-directed statement, with the singer yearning to become a brilliant light themselves, to find purpose and fulfillment.
Overall, the lyrics express feelings of uncertainty about one's place in the world, the pressure to achieve, and the desire for validation and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm getting sort of worried
I'm becoming increasingly anxious
Like the time of life I've reached
Similar to the stage in life that I've reached
I'm getting pretty old
I'm becoming quite aged
I should be reaching my peak
I should be reaching my highest point of potential
But I haven't made the stairs yet
But I haven't made progress towards my goals
But you know what mean girls say
But as you know, mean girls say
If you haven't got it when you're thirty
If you haven't achieved success by the age of thirty
That's the way you stay
That's how your situation remains
I can wash and clean the bedrooms
I'm capable of washing and tidying up the bedrooms
I can make some egg and toast
I can prepare eggs and toast
If you let me stay the night
If you allow me to spend the night
Then I'll let you get some rest
Then I'll allow you to get some rest
We could talk awhile on the futon
We could have a conversation for some time on the futon
If that's the way you want it
If that's your preferred way of doing things
Tell me where you want me
Instruct me on where you want me to be
Tell me where to sit
Tell me where I should take a seat
Where to start to build a clock
Where should I begin the process of constructing a clock?
Yeah, I depended on you i depended on you
Yes, I relied on you, I relied on you
To be a brilliant light yeah
To act as a shining source of inspiration, yes
Bring me in the church
Take me inside the church
On the corner of your street
Located at the intersection of your street
I'll be praying for forgiveness
I will engage in prayer, seeking forgiveness
I'll be praying for some love
I will pray for the experience of love
Because I haven't got a job
Because I don't have a job
And my heart's been closed
And my emotions have been locked away
You could start with the trousers
You could begin by addressing the trousers
'cause it's what's stopping the blood flow
Because it's what's impeding the circulation
To be a brilliant light yeah
To act as a shining source of inspiration, yes
To be a brilliant light
To serve as an illuminating presence
To be a brilliant light yeah
To act as a shining source of inspiration, yes
To be a brilliant light, oh
To be an exceptional beacon of light, oh
To be a brilliant light
To serve as an illuminating presence
To be a brilliant light
To act as a shining source of inspiration
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stefanoartuso001
Gave me goosebumps. The organ is fucking awesome and so the vocals
@annabanana2960
2:00 holy shit i've never heard thom sing like that before
@pedrovenegas494
Reminds me of Jeff Buckley ❤
@mr2ew
This song got stuck in my head and now I wake up in the middle of the night hearing it on repeat.
@llauram3650
"I'm getting sort of worried
like the time of life I've reached
I'm getting pretty old
I should be reaching my peak"
you're 20 Thom ffs.
@lebigfin5251
😂
@Guadeloop
tbh i feel the same way at 22
@stefanoartuso001
The Beatles also did some lyrics about getting old when they were young so it's not strange. It's like a time letter to yourself
@mf103
That chord change made it onto "You". The Stairway-esque riff is quite unexpected, and Thom sounds like a proto-Jeff Buckley here. Very cool!
@Trekkerle
Perhaps their best song before they became Radiohead.