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)
You Never Wash Up After Yourself
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything is starting to die
The dust settles, the worms dig
Spiders crawl over the bed
I must get out once in a while
I eat all day and now I'm fat
Yesterday's meal is hugging the plate
The lyrics to Radiohead's song You Never Wash Up After Yourself appear to be a reflection of the singer's mental state, perhaps a manifestation of depression or anxiety. The opening lines, "I must get out once in a while, Everything is starting to die," suggest a sense of desperation and a desire to escape the mundanity and decay of everyday life. This could be interpreted as a struggle with feeling stagnant or apathetic, and the need to break out of this cycle.
The following lines, "The dust settles, the worms dig, Spiders crawl over the bed," paint a vivid picture of a place that is neglected and decaying, further emphasizing the sense of stagnation and decay. The repetition of the opening line after this description perhaps shows that the singer is still feeling trapped and needs to escape.
The next verse continues the theme of neglect and decay with the lines, "I eat all day and now I'm fat, Yesterday's meal is hugging the plate, You never wash up after yourself." Here the singer is perhaps reflecting on their own lack of motivation and their inability to take care of themselves. The final line, "You never wash up after yourself," could also be interpreted as a criticism of someone close to the singer who is neglecting their own responsibilities.
Overall, the lyrics to You Never Wash Up After Yourself seem to be a reflection on issues of mental health, stagnation, and neglect.
Line by Line Meaning
I must get out once in a while
I need to leave my current environment and go somewhere else for a change of scenery and a break from routine.
Everything is starting to die
Life around me seems to be fading away or losing its vibrancy and energy.
The dust settles, the worms dig
The environment is becoming still and static, while the natural processes of decay and death carry on.
Spiders crawl over the bed
The artist is noticing the presence of creepy crawly creatures in their personal space, which may be making them uneasy or uncomfortable.
I eat all day and now I'm fat
The artist has been consuming food excessively and has gained weight as a result.
Yesterday's meal is hugging the plate
The remnants of a previous meal have not been cleared away and are still lingering on the dish, possibly indicating a lack of cleanliness or hygiene.
You never wash up after yourself
The singer is expressing frustration and anger towards someone who does not clean up their own mess after use, causing inconvenience and discomfort for others.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS YORKE, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
melatonin
Years later and I still relate. This is probably one of the most underappreciated Radiohead songs.
girls poop too
I agree. I think because it's so short it makes it even better. It leaves you wanting to hear it again and again.
Stay Gold Ponyboy
Ben M.
Indeed.
girls poop too
@Wosirjrb
I’m down
No Name
It is in my Top 5 Radiohead Songs
NaN
Cuando parecía que no había una canción que me identifique tal cual soy
aparecen los Radiohead con esta obra maestra y me hacen caer de culo
Como siempre
Qué buena banda por Dios
-“Max Gómez.”
-Majestuosa…
Hylton E
Strangely enough, this was the song that inspired me to learn to play guitar 13 years ago.
arex82
this song takes a piece of me every time I listen to it
Philip Wittmann
Time to loop this forever.