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)
Kid A (2000)
Amnesiac (2001)
Hail to the Thief (2003)
In Rainbows (2007)
The King of Limbs (2011)
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)
Vegetable
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I worked hard, tried hard
I ran around in domestic bliss
I fought hard, died long
Every time you're running out of here
Every time you're running I get the fear
I never wanted any broken bones
Your words surround me and asphyxiate
And I burn all hate
Every time you're running out on me
Every time you're running I can see
I'm not a vegetable
I will not control myself
I spit on the hand that feeds me
I will not control myself
The waters spray, the waters run all over me
The waters spray, the waters run
And this time you gonna pay
I'm not a vegetable
I will not control myself
I spit on the hand that feeds me
I will not control myself
The song "Vegetable" by Radiohead seems to be about the singer feeling suffocated and controlled by someone else. The first stanza seems to speak to the singer's attempts to live a normal life, with a domestic upbringing complete with hard work, determination, and sacrifice. However, the singer still feels afraid every time the other person leaves, perhaps because their absence signifies a loss of control or because they fear retribution for acting against the wishes of the other person.
The second stanza depicts the singer's desire for independence and resistance to the other person's attempts to control them. The reference to broken bones and a scarred face suggests that the singer has been physically hurt, possibly as a result of standing up for themselves. The "waters" in the following lines may refer to a cleansing or cathartic experience, as the singer seems to be ready to take back control and "spit on the hand that feeds" them.
Overall, "Vegetable" is a song about the struggle for personal autonomy and the desire to break free from the control of others. The repeated refrain of "I will not control myself" underscores this message and highlights the resistance felt by the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I never wanted anything like this
The singer didn't want the current situation they are in.
I worked hard, tried hard
The singer put in a lot of effort but still ended up in this undesired situation.
I ran around in domestic bliss
The singer tried their best to find happiness in their everyday life.
I fought hard, died long
The singer endured a lot of struggles and hardships.
Every time you're running out of here
The singer feels uneasy and fearful when someone leaves the situation.
Every time you're running I get the fear
The singer is scared when people exit the situation.
I never wanted any broken bones
The singer didn't want any violence or harm inflicted upon them.
Scarred face, no home
The singer has been physically harmed and has no place to call their own.
Your words surround me and asphyxiate
The singer is overwhelmed and suffocated by the words of those around them.
And I burn all hate
The singer is trying to let go of anger and resentment.
Every time you're running out on me
The singer feels abandoned and hurt when someone leaves the situation.
Every time you're running I can see
The singer can see the people leaving and it causes them distress.
I'm not a vegetable
The singer is declaring that they're not a passive follower and have their own agency.
I will not control myself
The singer won't allow others to control them or their actions.
I spit on the hand that feeds me
The singer rejects the idea of being dependent on someone else for their well-being.
The waters spray, the waters run all over me
The singer feels overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.
And this time you gonna pay
The singer is angry and plans to seek revenge.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 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