Like Spinning Plates
Thom Yorke Lyrics

Thom Yorke's song "Like Spinning Plates" is a haunting track that paints a vivid picture of vulnerability and desperation. The song speaks to the struggle of feeling powerless and insignificant at the hands of someone who wields power and control. The opening lines "While you make pretty speeches, I'm being cut to shreds" detail the singer's realization that they're being emotionally or psychologically abused by someone who puts on a facade of care and concern. The lyric "You feed me to the lions" implies that the abuser is causing the singer to suffer, for their own amusement or gain. The line "a delicate balance" suggests that the singer is aware of the power dynamic at play and that they're walking a thin line to avoid further harm.

The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, with its repetition of "And this just feels like spinning plates." The metaphor of spinning plates is a powerful one, suggesting the singer is barely holding things together, like a circus performer trying to balance an array of spinning plates without allowing any of them to fall. The imagery of "our bodies floating down the muddy river" evocatively conveys a sense of the singer's powerlessness and the feeling of being swept away by circumstances beyond their control.

Thom Yorke's "Like Spinning Plates" is a deeply emotive track that speaks to the human experience with power dynamics and control. It's a powerful metaphor for the sense of helplessness and desperation that comes with feeling like you're at the mercy of someone else's actions.