The Present Tense
Thom Yorke Lyrics


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Distance
Is like a weapon, like a weapon
Of self defense, of self defense
Against the present, against the present
"Present Tense"

I won't get heavy, don't get heavy
Keep it lighting, keep it moving
I am doing, no harm

As my world comes crashing down
I am dancing, freaking out
Deaf, dumb, and blind

In you I'm lost, in you I'm lost

I won't turn round while the penny drops
I won't stop now, I won't slack off
Or all this love will be in vain, ooooh
Stop from falling down a mine
It's no ones business but mine
Or all this love will be in vain
Ooohhhh





In you I'm lost, in you I'm lost

Overall Meaning

Thom Yorke's "The Present Tense" is a song about the struggle to live in the moment, to not dwell on the past or be consumed with worry about the future. The lyrics describe distance as a weapon of self-defense against the present, suggesting that our tendency to distance ourselves emotionally from what's happening in the here and now can be a way of protecting ourselves from pain. The line "I won't get heavy, don't get heavy" is a plea to stay light and not get bogged down with negativity, to keep moving and not get stuck in one place.


Despite the chaos and uncertainty of the world around him, the singer of the song insists that he is doing no harm, that he is simply trying to keep dancing and freaking out as a way of coping. It's a desperate but somehow hopeful message, a plea to hold on to love and not let it slip away. The repeated line "In you I'm lost" suggests that the singer has found someone or something he can hold on to, a source of stability in an otherwise tumultuous world.


Overall, "The Present Tense" is a powerful song about the struggle to stay present in our own lives, to live in the moment and not let fear and anxiety consume us. It's a message that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the world around them.


Line by Line Meaning

Distance
The distance is a defense mechanism against the present, a tool like a weapon to provide oneself with immunity.


Is like a weapon, like a weapon
The distance can be compared to a weapon, providing self-protection against emotional pain and from feeling present emotions.


Of self defense, of self defense
The distance that a person puts between themselves and others is for self-defense, protection from being hurt.


Against the present, against the present
The distance created is against the present emotions, and against the present moment and in-person interaction.


I won't get heavy, don't get heavy
I won't become a burden to you, so don't burden me with the weight of emotion.


Keep it lighting, keep it moving
Let's keep things light and avoid getting too deep or serious.


I am doing, no harm
I'm not intending to cause any harm or cause upset to you.


As my world comes crashing down
As everything falls apart around me.


I am dancing, freaking out
I'm trying to distract myself from the situation, acting out of fear and anxiety.


Deaf, dumb, and blind
I am ignorant to the truth, avoiding it due to fear and shielding myself from discomfort.


In you I'm lost, in you I'm lost
My identity is lost in you, and my sense of self is lost when I'm with you.


I won't turn round while the penny drops
I won't confront reality, even as it unveils the ugly truth around me.


I won't stop now, I won't slack off
I won't give up or be careless, even during difficult times, so as to not undermine the love shared between us.


Or all this love will be in vain, ooooh
If I were to give up, all our love would have been for nothing. I don't want to lose what we had.


Stop from falling down a mine
I will take caution to prevent myself from going down a path of self-destruction.


It's no ones business but mine
My struggles and hardships are only for me to deal with and nobody else's business.


Or all this love will be in vain
Once again, if I let myself fall apart, everything that we have built together would be for nothing. I want to preserve our love.


Ooohhhh
A vocalization of the emotional pain in the situation.




Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@juancamacho5746

This dance..
It's like a weapon..
Of self defense..
Against the present..
Present tense

I won't get heavy
Don't get heavy
Keep it light and
Keep it moving
I am doing
No harm
As my world
Comes crashing down
I'll be dancing
Freaking out
Deaf, dumb, and blind

In you I'm lost..
I won't turn around when the penny drops
I won't stop now
I won't slack off
Or all this love
Will be in vain
Stop from falling
Down a mine
It's no one's business but mine
Well, all this love
Has been in vain
In you I'm lost..



@avinashsingh-sp4nj

This dance
This dance
It's like a weapon
It's like a weapon
Of self defense
Self defense
Against the present
Against the present
Present tense

I won't get heavy
Don't get heavy
Keep it light and
Keep it moving
I am doing
No harm
As my world
Comes crashing down
I'm dancing
Freaking out
Deaf, dumb, and blind

In you I'm lost
In you I'm lost

I won't turn around when the penny drops
I won't stop now
I won't slack off
Or all this love
Will be in vain

Stop from falling
Down a mine
It's no one's business but mine
That all this love
Has been in vain

In you I'm lost
In you I'm lost
In you I'm lost
In you I'm lost



@hendrosetyow3072

This song made the love my life (who is my wife now) realized that she longer feels alone anymore as she has me now as life partner. When the line hit "In you I'm lost" she was stricken in the heart like how I was when I first heard it.
I never understands the meaning of the song, but I understands how love should feels by this song,
"I won't turn around when the penny drops
I won't stop now
I won't slack off
Or all this love
Will be in vain"
This gave me courage.
Thank you



All comments from YouTube:

@alvaropino3543

Everyone need: A Moon Shaped Pool from the basement

@anacosta6181

yes please

@tukychannel5316

Yeeeeesssssss pleeeeaaaaseeeeee!!!

@MattiasPerez13

Amen

@EstacaodeEnergia

by Paul Thomas Anderson

@anacosta6181

+Diego Marcelino Augusto. exactly

80 More Replies...

@ourso1266

This looks like an emo kid bonding with his new vegan stepfather and it's working

@user-bu6nq1ve6m

Ikr xD

@kyleplatz3751

lmao

@sopretentious

Haha I'm a huge Radiohead fan and this is the best comment :D

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