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.
Nose Grows Some
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I open up the door
To the back of your simple mind
And then we'll call the flood
When it all becomes too much
Spread your last legs
In the times you are afraid
When the rolling thunder claps
Yeah, through the bad times
Two birds on a wall
Your nose just grows
But you're just another drop
It is metal and it's cold
We'll wait up on the rocks
I am waiting on the tide
Through the back doors
If I'm blowing myself away
Under hot fluorescent lights
Two birds on a wall
Your nose just grows and grows
(One day I'll grow up tall)
(I will be with you)
Thom Yorke's song Nose Grows Some seems to be about someone who is unsure of how a night with someone will end if they open up to the other person, but they're willing to take the risk. They're hoping that the "flood" of emotion won't be too much to handle, but they're prepared to face it together. The lyrics also touch upon being there for someone when they're afraid and going through difficult times.
The line "two birds on a wall, your nose just grows" could be interpreted as a reference to the fable of Pinocchio, where his nose would grow longer every time he told a lie. In this case, it could be interpreted as someone's lies catching up with them or someone being hypocritical.
Overall, the song seems to touch upon themes of vulnerability, honesty, and trust in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t know how this night will end
Uncertainty about what is going to happen tonight
If I open up the door
Considering the possibility of revealing something personal
To the back of your simple mind
Exploring the depths of someone's subconscious self
And then we’ll call the flood
Bracing oneself for an emotional outpouring
When it all becomes too much
Acknowledging the feeling of being overwhelmed
Spread your last legs
Trying to hold on for as long as possible
In the times you are afraid
Empathizing with someone's fear
When the rolling thunder claps
Feeling the intensity of a moment
If I’m blowing myself away
Succumbing to one's own emotions
Through the bad times
Being there for someone during difficult moments
Two birds on a wall
Observing the beauty of the present moment
Your nose just grows
Noticing when someone is telling a lie
But you’re just another drop
Feeling insignificant in the grand scheme of things
It is metal and it’s cold
Describing an object in a physical way
We’ll wait up on the rocks
Anticipating a change that is yet to come
I am waiting on the tide
Symbolically waiting for a transformation
Through the back doors
Sneaking around to avoid being seen
Under hot fluorescent lights
Describing the discomfort of an environment
Your nose just grows and grows
Noticing someone's lie getting bigger and bigger
(One day I’ll grow up tall
I will be with you)
Expressing hope for the future and a desire for companionship
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nigel Godrich, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind