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.
Down Is The New Up
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the light pour in
Pour yourself a hot bath, pour yourself a drink
Nothing's gonna happen without a warning
Down is the new up
What is up, buttercup
Down is the new up, is the new up
Your services are not required
Your future's bleak, you're so last week
Ladies and gentlemen, without a safety net
I shall now perform a 180 flip-flop
I shall now amputate, I shall now contort
Because down is the new up
What if I just flip-flopped?
Down is the new up
Down is the new up
Down is the new up, is the new up
You're on Candid Camera
The chink in your armor
Topsy turvy town, topsy turvy town
Shake your pockets out
Pass it on, pass it down
Topsy turvy town, topsy turvy town
The song "Down Is The New Up" by Thom Yorke is a reflection on the world we live in and the fact that things are changing so rapidly. The lyrics suggest that we need to adapt and change with the times, as what was once considered normal or good is no longer relevant. The opening lines "Get yourself together, let the light pour in, pour yourself a hot bath, pour yourself a drink" suggest that we need to take care of ourselves, both physically and mentally, in order to be able to cope with the changes that are happening around us.
The chorus "Down is the new up, what is up, buttercup" highlights the fact that what was once considered up or right is now considered down or wrong. The lines "Your services are not required, your future's bleak, you're so last week" suggest that if we don't adapt and change with the times, we will be left behind and become irrelevant.
The middle section of the song "Ladies and gentlemen, without a safety net, I shall now perform a 180 flip-flop, I shall now amputate, I shall now contort" suggests that we need to be willing to take risks and try new things in order to keep up with the rapidly changing world around us. The final lines "Topsy turvy town, shake your pockets out, pass it on, pass it down, topsy turvy town" suggest that we need to pass on our knowledge and experiences to future generations so that they too can adapt and thrive in this topsy turvy world.
Line by Line Meaning
Get yourself together
Collect yourself and regain control
Let the light pour in
Be open to new experiences and ideas
Pour yourself a hot bath, pour yourself a drink
Take care of yourself and engage in self-care practices
Nothing's gonna happen without a warning
Anticipate and prepare for change
Down is the new up
The norm has shifted and what was once unexpected is now commonplace
What is up, buttercup
A playful and sarcastic way of asking what is considered normal
Your services are not required
You are not needed or wanted
Your future's bleak, you're so last week
Your prospects are not promising and you are out of touch
Ladies and gentlemen, without a safety net
Announcing a daring or risky act without any safety precautions
I shall now perform a 180 flip-flop
Radically change direction or perspective
I shall now amputate, I shall now contort
Expressing extreme actions or feelings
Because down is the new up
The reason or explanation for embracing the unexpected
What if I just flip-flopped?
Consider the possibility of changing one's perspective
You're on Candid Camera
Being caught on camera doing something unexpected or embarrassing
The chink in your armor
A vulnerability or weakness
Topsy turvy town, topsy turvy town
A place where everything is upside down or chaotic
Shake your pockets out
Search for hidden or lost items
Pass it on, pass it down
Share knowledge or information
Topsy turvy town, topsy turvy town
Repeating the description of a place where nothing is as it seems
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
Floppydonkey
Can someone tell me why the basement videos are simply the most emotional and eclectic forms of artists performances? I stop doing everything when I see these come up, thank you to everyone behind the scenes for making them.
raidenwave
less is more
DevastationMtrsports
@lmaxmai the space mythicizes itself by way of the various artists special performances within it.
lmaxmai
I understand where you are coming from, but is it necessary to mythicise the beknown virtues of quiet, somewhat remote places offering a certain amount of intimacy? And at the same time, about how much more than consumption does said series tend to be, really?
kayabudz 419
If you like Beck his sessions of In the Basement...His 2006,"The Information"album is superb...the instruments they played were crazy one dude was playing a speak n spell...But that's Beck.
Floppydonkey
@Anok Agreed... they are. Wolf Alice was a personal favourite. Like you say, its really good but no vibe.... that's what makes the difference for me.
Jason Youn
I see Thom. I click the video. I like the video. I watch the video. I repeat the video.
ʚ Joyce Byers ɞ
You really are a legend, so do I.
Brendan Wielders
Your a Ledgend
The 2nd Coming
So terrifyingly good, mate🧐