Yorke formed Radiohead with schoolmates at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire. Their 1992 debut single, "Creep", made Yorke a celebrity, and Radiohead went on to achieve critical acclaim and sales of over 30 million albums. Yorke's early influences included alternative rock acts such as Pixies and R.E.M. With Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A, Yorke moved into electronic music, influenced by Warp acts such as Aphex Twin. With the artist Stanley Donwood, Yorke creates artwork for Radiohead albums and his other projects. He often incorporates "erratic" dancing into his performances.
Yorke's solo work comprises mainly electronic music. His debut solo album, The Eraser, was released in 2006. To perform it live, in 2009, he formed a new band, Atoms for Peace, with musicians including the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and the Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. They released an album, [album artist=Atoms for Peace Amok[/album], in 2013. Yorke's second solo album, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, was released in 2014, followed by Anima in 2019. In 2021, Yorke debuted a new band, the Smile, with the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and the jazz drummer Tom Skinner. Yorke has collaborated with artists including PJ Harvey, Björk, Flying Lotus and Modeselektor, and has composed for film and theatre. His first feature film soundtrack, Suspiria, was released in October 2018.
Yorke is an activist on behalf of human rights, animal rights, environmental and anti-war causes, and his lyrics incorporate political themes. He has been critical of the music industry, particularly of major labels and streaming services such as Spotify. With Radiohead and his solo work, he has employed alternative release platforms such as pay-what-you-want and BitTorrent. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Radiohead in 2019.
A Brain in a Bottle
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still hands are gonna talk to us
Looked in your eye, in your eye
Seagull laugh and pick the bones
The entity I wrestle to the ground
Looked in the eye, looked in the eye
Some teasing and then bring myself in too
It's like I've forgotten you
Think I'm gonna go to pieces now
Come and fall in (in love) with the dark
Chill
Think I'm gonna slow my dance to you
Agree on letting you
And so I'm punched I just keep bouncing back
Come out fighting back
Chill
Thom Yorke's song A Brain In A Bottle is a cryptic and haunting piece that delves into the artist's preoccupations with the surreal and the nightmarish. The lyrics depict a sense of being pursued by an ominous force, represented by the constant seeking in the first line. The still hands that are going to talk to us may suggest that the threat is not visible, but it is looming and palpable. Looking in the eyes of the person being addressed in the lyrics may indicate the desire for a connection and the need for someone to witness the experience.
The mention of the seagull laughing and picking bones could symbolize a scavenger, and the entity that the singer wrestles to the ground is a metaphor for the powerlessness they feel in the face of this relentless force. The repetition of "looked in the eye" also highlights the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable. However, the word "chill" is repeated throughout the song, and it may suggest a desire to calm down and let go of fear. In the second half of the song, the lyrics become more introspective, with the singer referring to himself as forgetting someone and going to pieces.
Overall, A Brain In A Bottle is a surreal exploration of fear, control, and the human psyche. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they create a vivid atmosphere that is both disturbing and hypnotic.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh what's that seeking us
What is coming after us?
Still hands are gonna talk to us
We will be communicated with through body language
Looked in your eye, in your eye
I am trying to read your emotions by looking into your eyes
Seagull laugh and pick the bones
Laughing and taking advantage of someone else's misfortune
The entity I wrestle to the ground
I am struggling to overcome something
Looked in the eye, looked in the eye
I am trying to confront my problems head-on
Chill
Relax and take a breath
Some teasing and then bring myself in too
I am trying to flirt and join in on the fun
It's like I've forgotten you
I feel distant from you
Think I'm gonna go to pieces now
I feel like I am breaking down mentally
Come and fall in (in love) with the dark
Embrace the unknown and take risks
Chill
Relax and take a breath
Think I'm gonna slow my dance to you
I am going to tone down my actions towards you
Agree on letting you
I will allow you to do what you want
And so I'm punched I just keep bouncing back
Even though I am hurt, I am resilient and will recover
Come out fighting back
I will not give up and will keep pushing through
Chill
Relax and take a breath
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nigel Godrich, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind