House of Cards
Radiohead - Live in Santiago Chile 27/03/2009 Lyrics


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I don't want to be your friend
I just want to be your lover
No matter how it ends
No matter how it starts

Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine

And fall off the table
Get swept under

Denial, denial

The infrastructure will collapse
Voltage spikes
Throw your keys in the bowl
Kiss your husband goodnight

And forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine

Fall off the table
And get swept under

Denial, denial
Denial, denial
(Your ears should be burning)




Denial, denial
(Your ears should be burning)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song are about a toxic relationship where one person wants more than the other. The singer states that they don't want friendship; they just want to be the lover of the person they are addressing. They are willing to pursue this relationship no matter how it ends, whether they are accepted or rejected. Then, the chorus comes in, "Forget about your house of cards, and I'll do mine." The "house of cards" here is a metaphor for the delicate balance that each person in the relationship is trying to maintain. The singer wants the other person to let go of their guard and abandon the balance that they have built, so they can pursue the relationship with honesty and emotional depth. They want the other person to stop denying their feelings and embrace what they truly want. The end of the chorus indicates that the singer will do the same; they will let go of their careful balancing act.


The bridge begins with "The infrastructure will collapse." The infrastructure here may represent the emotional infrastructure of the relationship, as the voltage spikes may refer to the buildup of tension between the two parties. The following lines suggest a lifestyle change where keys are being thrown in a bowl, potentially implying an open relationship or an affair. The chorus repeats with the implication that denying the emotions of the relationship will only lead to failure and may lead to one person getting hurt. The repetition of 'denial, denial’ further stresses the importance of not denying one's feelings and accepting them.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't want to be your friend
I desire to be your lover, not just a mere friend.


I just want to be your lover
I am not interested in pursuing a platonic relationship, only a romantic one.


No matter how it ends
The outcome of our relationship, either positive or negative, will not sway my desire for it.


No matter how it starts
Regardless of how our connection originated, my feelings remain unchanged.


Forget about your house of cards
Please disregard your fragile facade or unstable life and concentrate on us.


And I'll do mine
I will reciprocate the willingness to dismantle personal defenses for the sake of love.


And fall off the table
Despite some uncertainty or risk-taking, pursue the relationship without reservation.


Get swept under
Accept the unexpected consequences that may arise.


Denial, denial
Reluctance to confront the reality of the situation or personal weakness that may affect the relationship.


The infrastructure will collapse
The foundation of our world may disintegrate or be rendered obsolete.


Voltage spikes
Unforeseen conflicts or disagreements may endanger our relationship.


Throw your keys in the bowl
Making a cuckold of one's partner in a game of sexual exchange, similar to wife-swapping.


Kiss your husband goodnight
An instruction to an anonymous audience, probably for role-playing or sensual gain.


(Your ears should be burning)
You are the object of discussion or motivation for changes to present attitudes or behavior.




Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, 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
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Comments from YouTube:

@UNtornill

era tanta la emoción que ni me percaté de la gente que me rodeaba, ..... salvó de quienes ibamos juntos y de quienes nos apretaron adelante

@tunakdeh

temazoooo

@dlaaalaz09

q moderna esta la cosa! antes las cosas q brillaban en los aires era fuego, ahora son puras pantallas de celulares y camaras, jajaja el mensaje de kraftwer es el preciso, hombres maquinas, tan como los japoneses que sacan fotos y graban todo en los viajes y cuando llegan a la casa disfrutan del viaje, viendo imagenes planas y no lo disfrutaron cuando estuvieron en el presente, siempre viviendo en el futuro, y de ah pasando rapidamente al pasado tuvo muy bueno ayer, muy emocionante, mxo respeto

@ginebra909

Estaba en Golden pero no pude encontrarme con unos amigos, estaba solo. Lo único que rompia la magia era tratar d mirar al escenario (Se veía perfecto todo) entre el mar de cámaras. No entiendo esa gente que sacaban fotos y veían q tal salian y volvían a levantar las manos en busca del mejor ángulo. También tuve q soportar un pendejo ignorante q puteaba contra Kraftwerk. Es lamentable que gente así sea fan de radiohead. Pero todo eso palidece finalmente.

@Latetera

ctm la wea

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