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.
Guess Again!
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behind the curtains
I hold on to my children
Creatures staring in
All of my nightmares
Are in the garden
Guess again!
The one who can't be killed
Elastic bionic man
Guess again!
As one door shuts
Another opens
Guess again!
Do you think your mind blows up?
Do you think your mind blows up?
Guess again!
Do you think your mind blows up?
Do you think your mind blows up?
The lyrics to Thom Yorke’s song Guess Again! speak to feelings of fear, uncertainty, and fleeting moments of hope in a chaotic world. The opening lines describe a sense of danger lurking just outside the safe space inside one’s home. The “wild dogs” howling behind the curtains could represent external threats such as economic troubles, political unrest, or climate change. The singer clings to his children, who are innocent and vulnerable in the face of the dangers outside. The “creatures staring in” could represent both the physical dangers of the outside world and the anxiety and depression that can creep into one’s mind when feeling overwhelmed.
The second verse seems to turn inward as the singer describes fighting in the darkness against an enemy “who can’t be killed.” The metaphor of the “elastic bionic man” could represent a sense of hopelessness in the face of forces beyond one’s control. However, the final line of the verse, “Guess again!”, suggests that despite the difficulties, there is still some resilience and hope left.
The final lines of the song repeat the phrase “Do you think your mind blows up? Guess again!”, which could be interpreted as a challenge to those who are struggling to persevere despite their mental health challenges. Overall, the lyrics of Guess Again! convey a sense of vulnerability and fear coupled with a refusal to give up in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Wild dogs are howling
I feel threatened and full of fear
Behind the curtains
The danger feels close and hidden
I hold on to my children
I am protective of those I care about
Creatures staring in
The threat is coming from outside, and it's watching me
All of my nightmares
I am facing everything that scares me
Are in the garden
The danger is all around me, even in the peaceful and beautiful places
Guess again!
Challenge yourself to rethink the situation and find a new perspective
I'm fighting in the darkness
I am struggling against something I cannot fully understand or see
The one who can't be killed
The threat is powerful and relentless, I don't know if I can win
Elastic bionic man
I feel like I need to be superhuman to face this challenge
As one door shuts
Something has ended, and I need to face a new beginning
Another opens
Opportunities are waiting for me, but I need to be open-minded
Do you think your mind blows up?
Are you ready to challenge your perceptions and question everything?
Do you think your mind blows up?
Are you willing to face the unknown and discover new truths?
Guess again!
Don't settle for easy answers, keep searching for meaning
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Charles Greenwood, Nigel Godrich, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind