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.
I am a very rude person
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't mean a thing
But it won't bother me
You don't mean a thing
But it won't bother me
You don't mean a thing
But it won't bother me
You don't mean a thing
I have to find my way in the dark (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to take a knife to your art (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to find some way to escape (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to walk but I wanna stay (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
I have to hope this spell's going to break (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to destroy to create (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to be rude to your face (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I'm breaking out the turntables (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
Now I'm gonna watch your party die
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The lyrics to "1" by Thom Yorke/Mark Mulcahy may seem disjointed at first, but they convey a feeling of determination and defiance. The repeated line "You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me" suggests that the singer is facing something or someone who has tried to bring them down, but they are not going to let it get to them. The following verses illustrate different ways the singer is fighting back: they have to find their own way in the dark, they have to destroy in order to create, and they are breaking out the turntables (a reference to DJing, which can be subversive and transformative).
The chorus, consisting of only vocalizations, adds to the feeling of intensity and release. The singer is no longer passive or defeated; they are embracing their own power and agency.
Overall, "1" is a song about standing up for oneself and finding strength in the face of adversity. It encourages listeners to not let anyone or anything bring them down, and to use their own creativity and resourcefulness to overcome obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't bother me
I won't be bothered by your actions
You don't mean a thing
Your words and actions are insignificant to me
But it won't bother me
They won't have any effect on me
I have to find my way in the dark (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to navigate through difficult times and your actions won't distract me
I have to take a knife to your art (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to criticize and dismantle your creative work and it won't have any emotional impact on me
I have to find some way to escape (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to find a way out of a situation and your interference won't matter to me
I have to walk but I wanna stay (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to leave despite wanting to stay, and your attempts to stop me won't affect my decision
I have to hope this spell's going to break (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I hope to overcome a difficult situation and your actions won't hinder me
I have to destroy to create (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to break down something to create something new, and your disapproval of my actions won't bother me
I have to be rude to your face (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I have to act rudely towards you and your response won't have an effect on me
I'm breaking out the turntables (You don't mean a thing, but it won't bother me)
I'm using my turntables and your opinion of my choice won't bother me
Now I'm gonna watch your party die
I will watch as your efforts fail
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Edward Yorke, Nigel Timothy Godrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind