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.
Traffic
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Submit
Submerged
No body
No body
It's not good
It's not right
A sponge
But you're free
Show me the money
Party with a rich zombie
Suck it in through a straw
Party with a rich zombie
Crime pays, she stays
In Kensington and Chelsea
And you have to make amends
To make amends, to me
I can't breathe
I can't breathe
There's no water
There's no water
A drip feed
Foie gras
A brick wall
A brick wall
But you're free
Show me the money
Party with a rich zombie
Suck it in through a straw
Party with a rich zombie
Yeah, crime pays, she stays
In Kensington and Chelsea
And you have to make amends
To make amends to me
In Thom Yorke's song Traffic, the lyrics paint a picture of detachment and drowning in materialism. The repeated phrase "yeah" acts as a detached affirmation to the events happening around the singer. The lines "submit", "submerged", and "no body" imply a loss of control and a lack of identity while "a mirror, a sponge" suggest an absorbing of surroundings without reflection. However, the lines "but you're free" gives a sense of hope that there's a way out of this suffocating world.
The second verse exposes the darker side of this materialistic world the singer is living in. The phrase "show me the money" refers to the greed that drives people to submit to the system. The metaphor of "party with a rich zombie" speaks to the soulless existence of those who indulge in materialism, while "suck it in through a straw" implies an addiction that's difficult to break. The lines “crime pays, she stays" are a commentary on the unfairness of society where the rich can get away with anything, while "Kensington and Chelsea" refers to a wealthy area in London. The repeated line "and you have to make amends to me" could be seen as the singer's demand for justice.
The final verse is suffocating, with the lines "I can't breathe", "there's no water", and "a brick wall". It’s a metaphor for feeling trapped and unable to escape. However, the final line "but you're free" brings back the idea that despite the limitations, there's still hope for freedom.
Overall, the song Traffic is a commentary on society's obsession with materialism, a feeling of being trapped and suffocated, and the hope for freedom despite the odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah (yeah)
Affirmative expression conveying agreement or signifying attention.
Submit
To present or urge a matter for consideration, approval, or decision.
Submerged
Fully immersed in a liquid or obscured from view.
No body
The absence of a physical form or substance.
No body
The absence of a physical form or substance.
It's not good
Expression conveying that the situation is not favorable or desirable.
It's not right
Expression conveying that something is morally or ethically wrong.
A mirror
A reflective surface, typically made of glass with a metallic coating, used for viewing oneself.
A sponge
A porous material used for absorbing liquid or removing dirt or grime.
But you're free
Expression conveying that despite the unfavorable or immoral situation, one still has the freedom to make choices.
Show me the money
Expression demanding proof of financial transactions or incentives.
Party with a rich zombie
Metaphorically describing the superficial and soulless lifestyles of the wealthy.
Suck it in through a straw
Expression conveying the idea of gorging or consuming without thought or consequence.
Party with a rich zombie
Metaphorically describing the superficial and soulless lifestyles of the wealthy.
Crime pays, she stays
Expression highlighting the injustice of the justice system and the privilege of the elite.
In Kensington and Chelsea
Location reference to one of the wealthiest boroughs in London.
And you have to make amends
Expression conveying the idea of righting a wrong or making reparations for past behavior.
To make amends, to me
Persuasive expression demanding restitution or reconciliation.
I can't breathe
Expression of suffocation or desperation.
I can't breathe
Expression of suffocation or desperation.
There's no water
Expression conveying the lack of sustenance or life force.
There's no water
Expression conveying the lack of sustenance or life force.
A drip feed
Medical technique for delivering medications or nutrients slowly over a period of time.
Foie gras
A luxury food product made from the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened.
A brick wall
A solid structure that impedes progress or movement.
A brick wall
A solid structure that impedes progress or movement.
But you're free
Expression conveying that despite the obstacles or difficulties, one still has the freedom to make choices.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Edward Yorke, Nigel Timothy Godrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind