Knives Out
The Flaming Lips Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want you to know
He's not coming back
Look into my eyes
He's not coming back

So knives out
Catch the mouse
Throw it down
Shove it in your mouth

If you'd been a dog
You're the only one who drowned at birth
Look into my eyes
It's the only way I wanna tell the truth

So knives out
Catch the mouse




Thrown it down
Shove it in your mouth

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Flaming Lips's song Knives Out present a sense of madness and frustration. The repeated phrase of "He's not coming back" implies a sense of loss and abandonment, perhaps by a lover or friend. The singer of the song is so haunted by this loss that they resort to an act of violence and savagery, telling the listener to "catch the mouse...shove it in your mouth". This could be interpreted as a metaphor for taking control of one's own pain and anger, rather than letting it consume them. In the second verse, the lyrics take a darker turn, suggesting that if the singer's listener had been a dog, they would have "drowned at birth". This may suggest that the singer is struggling with nihilistic thoughts and sees the world and beings in it as disposable.


Overall, the lyrics to Knives Out are both visceral and abstract, leaving interpretation open to the listener. The chorus calls to "throw down" the mouse, suggesting a desire for control and a willingness to let the insanity take over. The final line of the second verse, "It's the only way I wanna tell the truth", implies that the singer has a hard time being truthful with themselves and others, and perhaps this violent imagery is their way of confessing their inner turmoil.


Line by Line Meaning

I want you to know
I feel the need to tell you something


He's not coming back
The person we're talking about will not return


Look into my eyes
Pay attention and listen to what I'm saying


He's not coming back
The person we're talking about will not return


So knives out
Get ready for a fight or confrontation


Catch the mouse
Identify the problem or issue at hand


Throw it down
Confront the problem or issue head-on


Shove it in your mouth
Deal with the consequences and take responsibility for your actions


If you'd been a dog
If you were in a different situation


You're the only one who drowned at birth
You were the only one who didn't survive the difficult circumstances


Look into my eyes
Pay attention and listen to what I'm saying


It's the only way I wanna tell the truth
I need to be honest with you, but this is the only way I know how


So knives out
Get ready for a fight or confrontation


Catch the mouse
Identify the problem or issue at hand


Thrown it down
Confront the problem or issue head-on


Shove it in your mouth
Deal with the consequences and take responsibility for your actions




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, 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:

HEDROVER

I love covers that don't try to sound exactly like the original.  It freshens it up and brings something new to the table.

Graham May

Music to my ears!! ...I'd be super thrilled if you'd have a listen to my Thom Yorke tribute EP....
Listen to Thom Yorke 50th birthday tribute EP by Loci on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/loci-8/sets/thom-yorke-50th-birthday

Regina Arelio

I love Radiohead & I love The Flaming Lips... Nothing to say!!

jose campos

A mi tambien me encantan. Aunque mi banda son los Flaming Lips.

TL Bombsquad

Me too

Clif 'couch' Wilfong

Regina Arelio

QOTSARadio

this just prooves how difficult the radiohead songs are to sing live. Makes me forgive Yorke for his misstakes sometimes :)

carolineroyce

Sweet cover. Gives the song a whole new feel while still sounding unmistakably like Radiohead.

Teodor Kjell

Wayne Coyne's voice. Lovingly terrible. <3

Ir Ene

La verdad el cambio entre esta versión y la original no fue muy drástico, por allá atrás suena una guitarra eléctrica...

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