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)
Weird Fishes / Arpeggi
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The bottom of the sea
Your eyes
They turn me
Why should I stay here?
Why should I stay?
Follow where you lead
Your eyes
They turn me
Turn me on to phantoms (way out)
I follow to the edge of the Earth (way out, way out)
And fall off
Yeah, everybody leaves (way out)
If they get the chance (way out)
And this is my chance (way out)
I get eaten by the worms
And weird fishes
Picked over by the worms
And weird fishes
Weird fishes
Weird fishes
I'll hit the bottom
Hit the bottom and escape
Escape
I'll hit the bottom
Hit the bottom and escape
Escape
The lyrics to Radiohead's "Weird Fishes / Arpeggi" are somewhat elusive, as is the case with many of the band's songs. But a central theme seems to be the compelling attraction and pull of a lover, which is likened to the depths of the ocean. The singer of the song is drawn inexorably by the magnetic force of his lover's eyes, and feels he would be crazy not to follow them, wherever they may lead. The line "turn me on to phantoms" suggests that this love interest is something otherworldly, with a dreamlike quality that seems to surround them.
Although the tone of the song starts out romantic and dreamy, it quickly takes a darker turn, as the singer imagines himself being consumed by "weird fishes" and "picked over by the worms." This may be a metaphor for being lost in the depths of the ocean, but it also has a more visceral quality that might suggest a fear of death or abandonment. Nevertheless, the song ends on an optimistic note, with the singer resolving to "hit the bottom and escape" from whatever unknown danger or darkness lurks below.
Line by Line Meaning
In the deepest ocean
The song begins with a metaphor of being in the deepest ocean, representing the feeling of being lost in a sea of uncertainty.
The bottom of the sea
This continues the metaphor of being at the lowest point and feeling trapped with no way to escape.
Your eyes
The focus shifts from the metaphorical deep sea to the literal, as the singer is drawn to the captivating gaze of another person.
They turn me
The power of the other person's eyes is so strong that the artist is compelled to follow them.
Why should I stay here?
Despite feeling trapped in the ocean metaphor, the artist questions why they would want to leave the person with the captivating gaze.
Why should I stay?
The questioning continues, with the singer considering the reasons for staying and reaffirming the initial pull they felt towards the other person.
I'd be crazy not to follow
The intensity of the attraction is too strong to ignore, so the singer acknowledges that they would be foolish not to pursue the other person.
Follow where you lead
This line confirms the willingness of the artist to submit to the other person's influence and follow them wherever they go.
Turn me on to phantoms
The artist describes feeling a sense of mysticism and being introduced to something otherworldly through the other person's influence.
I follow to the edge of the earth
The artist expresses their readiness to follow the other person to the end of the earth, emphasizing the extent to which they are under their spell.
And fall off
This line is a bit of a paradox, as the singer simultaneously acknowledges that their journey may have an end (suggesting they will fall off the edge of the earth), but also implies that they are willing to pursue the unknown, even if it leads to their demise.
Yeah, everybody leaves
This line is a bit of a downer, and suggests a sense of cynicism. The artist acknowledges that everyone they may encounter will eventually leave them behind.
If they get the chance
Continuing from the previous line, the singer implies that people will all eventually leave if given the opportunity to do so.
And this is my chance
The singer's final line in this stanza reveals their sense of urgency to pursue the person with the captivating gaze now, while they still have the opportunity to do so.
I get eaten by the worms
The metaphor of being lost at sea returns, with the singer describing themselves as being helpless and vulnerable to the elements.
And weird fishes
This line establishes a connection between the previous metaphor of being eaten by worms and a new one of being surrounded by strange and unfamiliar creatures.
Picked over by the worms
The helplessness and vulnerability of the artist are reinforced, as they are at the mercy of the worms and have no control over their fate.
Weird fishes
The strange and unfamiliar creatures continue to surround the singer, adding to the sense of being lost and alone.
I'll hit the bottom
The singer expresses a sense of resolve, indicating that they are not afraid to reach the lowest point.
Hit the bottom and escape
Despite acknowledging the depth of their current situation, the artist remains hopeful that they can eventually escape and find a way out of their predicament.
Escape
The final word of the song returns to the sense of urgency and desire to escape the current situation, emphasizing the artist's determination to find a way out.
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
@kaylafrost6140
In the deepest ocean
The bottom of the sea
Your eyes
They turn me
Why should I stay here?
Why should I stay?
I'd be crazy not to follow
Follow where you lead
Your eyes
They turn me
Turn me on to phantoms
I follow to the edge of the earth
And fall off
Everybody leaves
If they get the chance
And this is my chance
I get eaten by the worms
Weird fishes
Get towed by the worms
Weird fishes
Weird fishes
Weird fishes
I'll hit the bottom
Hit the bottom and escape
Escape
I'll hit the bottom
Hit the bottom and escape
Escape
@peterrobert3223
Amazes me how Ed's brief backing vocals matter so much to this...
@markscott4969
You are so right .. imagine in the studio Ed says ok right here I go AAAAAAAHHHHHH
@peterrobert3223
@@markscott4969 lol!!
@scottboyd3838
I love when the use Ed's vocals in certain tracks, big bloke too!!
@rolphy4338
I always think that
@michaellynch5637
@@markscott4969 lol i don't know why your comment was so funny
@moshrom3473
Imagine the pressure on that poor drummer.
@helenagutierrez284
Im not denying phill is an amazing drummer, i would Just like to point out how this drum pattern is way easier than it looks. Its Just about coordination, once u get that, its very easy. And im not a drummer, im a guitar player lol.
@philqrt1357
@@helenagutierrez284 hey, drummer here ! you're right the pattern isn't that hard but I'd like to point out that phil plays it pretty fast and carries it in an impressively steady way. that's to be expected from such an amazing drummer ;)
@helenagutierrez284
@@philqrt1357 ofc! Phill is an amazing drummer and his Playing is Just so neat. Seems like they are allergic to 4/4 lmao jk