Thom Yorke described the process of composing Videotape as "absolute agony", stating that the song "went through every possible parameter". One day, Yorke left the studio, returning to find that Godrich and Jonny Greenwood had stripped the song down to the version found on the album, a minimal piano ballad.
Videotape
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This will be on my videotape, my videotape
Mephistopheles is just beneath
And he's reaching up to grab me
This is one for the good days
And I have it all here
In red, blue, green
You are my center
When I spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it face to face
So I'm talking to you before
No matter what happens now
You shouldn't be afraid
Because I know today has been
The most perfect day I've ever seen
The opening lines of Radiohead's song "Videotape" depict the singer in a reflective state, imagining himself at the pearly gates of heaven with a videotape that contains his memories, regrets, and what has mattered to him in his life. The allusion to Mephistopheles, a demon from German folklore, adds a layer of ominousness to the picture that he's painting. The idea of death and judgment looms over the lyrics, and it seems as if the singer is trying to tie up loose ends before his final moments. The recurring refrain of "on videotape" acts as an anchor for him, a way to hold onto moments that might otherwise slip away into the void.
The second verse of the song seems like a direct message to someone close to the singer, possibly a lover or a family member. He's telling them that they've been his center, the one who's kept him grounded and steady, but he's aware that he has a tendency to spin away out of control. In this sense, videotape could be seen as a metaphor for memory and the way that it allows us to revisit and relive moments, even ones that we'd rather forget.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm at the pearly gates
When I die and go to heaven
This will be on my videotape, my videotape
This memory will be recorded and immortalized
Mephistopheles is just beneath
The devil is lurking nearby
And he's reaching up to grab me
Death is coming for me
This is one for the good days
This is a happy memory
And I have it all here
I have captured every detail of it
In red, blue, green
These colors represent the different emotions and perspectives in the memory
You are my center
You are my anchor and stability in life
When I spin away
When I lose control or become overwhelmed
Out of control on videotape
This moment is captured even when I feel like I'm losing myself
On videotape
Repeating this phrase emphasizes the importance of capturing the memory
This is my way of saying goodbye
This video is my farewell message
Because I can't do it face to face
I am unable to say goodbye in person
So I'm talking to you before
I am taking this opportunity to express my feelings before I die
No matter what happens now
Regardless of the outcome
You shouldn't be afraid
You should not fear death
Because I know today has been
Because I know that today has been
The most perfect day I've ever seen
This memory is the pinnacle of my life and happiness
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