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.
Harrowdown Hill
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You will be dispensed with
When you've become
Inconvenient
Up on Harrowdown Hill
Near where you used to go to school
That's where I
That's where I am lying down
Did I fall or was I pushed?
Then where's the blood?
Then where's the blood?
But I'm coming home, I'm coming home
To make it alright, so dry your eyes
We think the same things at the same time
We just can't do anything about it
We think the same things at the same time
We just can't do anything about it
So don't ask me, ask the ministry
Don't ask me, ask the ministry
We think the same things at the same time
There are so many of us, so you can't count
We think the same things at the same time
There are so many of us, so you can't count
Can you see me when I'm running?
Can you see me when I'm running?
Away from there
Away from there
I can't take the pressure
No one cares if you live or die
They just want me gone
They want me gone
But I'm coming home, I'm coming home
To make it alright, so dry your eyes
We think the same things at the same time
We just can't do anything about it
We think the same things at the same time
There are too many of us, so you can't
There are too many of us, so you can't count
It was me lead onto the back of Harrowdown Hill
It was me lead onto the back of Harrowdown Hill
It was a slippery, slippery, slippery slope
It was a slippery, slippery, slippery slope
I feel me slipping in and out of consciousness
I feel me slipping in and out of consciousness
I feel me
The lyrics of Harrowdown Hill by Thom Yorke revolve around the mysterious death of Dr. David Kelly. The lyrics suggest that the person speaking in the song may have been responsible for Dr. Kelly's death or may have played a role in some way. The lines "Did I fall or was I pushed? Then where's the blood?" suggest that there may have been foul play involved in the death of Dr. Kelly. The lines "Don't walk the plank like I did, you will be dispensed with when you've become inconvenient" may be a warning to others who may know too much or be seen as a liability.
The lines "But I'm coming home, I'm coming home, to make it alright, so dry your eyes" suggest a sense of remorse or guilt on the part of the singer. The repetition of "We think the same things at the same time, we just can't do anything about it" implies a feeling of powerlessness in the face of corrupt systems or governments.
Overall, the lyrics of Harrowdown Hill are haunting and thought-provoking, exploring themes of power, corruption and accountability.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't walk the plank like I did
Don't make the same mistake as me
You will be dispensed with
You will be disposed of
When you've become Inconvenient
When you become an inconvenience
Up on Harrowdown Hill
On the hill called Harrowdown
Near where you used to go to school
Close to the place where you used to attend school
That's where I That's where I am lying down
That is where I ended up lying down
Did I fall or was I pushed?
Did I stumble or was I forced down?
Then where's the blood?
If it was a fall, where is the evidence?
But I'm coming home, I'm coming home To make it alright, so dry your eyes
I'm returning to make everything okay, so stop crying
We think the same things at the same time
We share similar thoughts simultaneously
We just can't do anything about it
We are unable to take any action
So don't ask me, ask the ministry
Don't ask me, ask those in charge
There are so many of us, so you can't count
There are too many of us to keep track
Can you see me when I'm running?
Can you see me while I'm trying to escape?
Away from there
Trying to get away from that place
I can't take the pressure
I am unable to handle the stress
No one cares if you live or die
Nobody cares about your life or death
They just want me gone
They simply want me to disappear
It was me lead onto the back of Harrowdown Hill
I was led to the back of Harrowdown Hill
It was a slippery, slippery, slippery slope
It was a treacherous decline
I feel me slipping in and out of consciousness
I feel myself losing and regaining consciousness
I feel me
I feel myself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maewillis3717
The lyrics :
Don't walk the plank like I did
You will be dispensed with
When you've become
Inconvenient
Up on Harrowdown Hill
Near where you used to go to school
That's where I
That's where I am lying down
Did I fall or was I pushed?
Did I fall or was I pushed?
Then where's the blood?
Then where's the blood?
But I'm coming home, I'm coming home
To make it alright, so dry your eyes
We think the same things at the same time
We just can't do anything about it
We think the same things at the same time
We just can't do anything about it
So don't ask me, ask the ministry
Don't ask me, ask the ministry
We think the same things at the same time
There are so many of us, so you can't count
We think the same things at the same time
There are so many of us, so you can't count
Can you see me when I'm running?
Can you see me when I'm running?
Away from there
Away from there
I can't take the pressure
No one cares if you live or die
They just want me gone
They want me gone
But I'm coming home, I'm coming home
To make it alright, so dry your eyes
We think the same things at the same time
We just can't do anything about it
We think the same things at the same time
There are too many of us, so you can't
There are too many of us, so you can't count
It was me lead onto the back of Harrowdown Hill
It was me lead onto the back of Harrowdown Hill
It was a slippery, slippery, slippery slope
It was a slippery, slippery, slippery slope
I feel me slipping in and out of consciousness
I feel me slipping in and out of consciousness
I feel me
@charlotteedwards7388
I was woken up at 7am at Latitude festival by Thom Yorke doing a sound check on this. Still my best memory ever
@21xristos21
and you thought that you were still dreaming right ??? :P
@annamillar4591
Charlotte Edwards ethereal
@brandondavis5547
that is so sad
@Xallisto1
7am sound check? fuck that.
@justinstrite4335
Don't listen to the fucker that said that's a gay memory
@whtplstc
Truly one of Yorke's masterworks.
@spartacusmills3569
Nearly 30 years ago I ran out of petrol in my Austin Metro, just outside of my village. I walked up the hill and knocked on the door of a house in Littlemore. The kind bearded man who lived there drove me five or so miles to Marcham to fill up my Jerrycan. An admirable and extremely kind soul.
@chicomalo444
Thom Yorke is a genius
@user-nb1uq1qb6e
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