| Radiohead – Lotus Flower Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I'd like to get away from the whole sexual innuendo thing here for a minute and really break this song down as it should be- in reference to the music video that accompanies it. Now to me this song is pretty special, even for Radiohead. It is Buddhist in some regard. Yes, Lotus Flower is the title and yes that is one of the eight auspicious symbols of the religion. But whats important here is something much more simplistic- it about Letting Go. It begins with the line, "I will shape myself into your pocket". This is an attempt for Yorke to explain that he can be exactly who WE want him to be and his shape is different for everyone. Then he can be "invisible", and we can "do what we want" with him. I believe this is because we will never see what he could wish us to see, the way he sees it. It is OUR life but his music makes him a part of it each time we listen to him, and he is in our own pockets because he is the one who is pouring his soul into his music and revealing just how much he has in his heart. Then there is the fact that it is done with unbelievably truthful yet enigmatic lyrics and accompanying music video. So can you see what he sees? Highly unlikely. Also notice that in the music video he unfurls much like a lotus flower would, he is in a very real sense becoming a blossoming one as the song goes along. And notice the use of color. Strictly black and white for a reason? Definitely. "I will shrink and I will disappear ". This is likely his greatest fear and yet he readily admits it. What do you think gives Tom Yorke the greatest joy? For people to listen. Listen hard. Real f-ing hard. And maybe for just one moment you might begin to grasp the complexity of what he is trying to reveal so artistically with his diction. And yet we don't. We like the sounds and take it as another stupid sex song thats hitting Billboards top 40. Then he says, "I will slip into a groove and cut me off, cut me off". We will place him somewhere that it makes sense inside our minds and then cut him off thinking that we've figured out what he is trying to say. At that point, we'll feel content with his song. Like we got it all figured out. But for him... all the while... its driving him insane. And thats why, "there's an empty space inside MY(Thom's) heart where the weeds take root and so now I'll set YOU free" Because all he can do as an artist is try to explain himself in this regard when he has so much that he wants to say that he feels as though no one could ever understand. So what does he have? Well he can continue to do whats tearing him apart and sing beautiful songs and have it be "nice sounding" for US so it can set US free. Because for most, thats all we need(sound and a beat). But if you don't think there are about 200 meanings to every line in this song for him then you are off your rocker. As off your rocker as Thom Yorke is whenever he listens to his heart, which is always, which is why he continues to make music for us to listen to that we will never fully grasp they way he could wish... And so slowly we unfurl, each in our own way at our own pace, as lotus flowers, cause all I want is the moon upon a stick... (to be able to shine this bright light for everyone in darkness so they could see what he sees. "Just to see what if" we could, "Just to see what is" what his truth is which is probably very right by highly complex, and yet we can't, but regardless he can't kick our habit of giving his heart out to society with his music as it is replaced by growing weeds, just to feed our fast ballooning heads- as we enjoy his music with no conception of what he is actually saying.... NOW. "Listen to your heart". Sucks doesn't it? Next comes, "we will shrink and be as quiet as mice". Very straight-forward. When the pressures on, when we are implored to think critically about ourselves or given a brutal truth(by him) or are asked to fight for what someone else believes in, so many will shrink and be as quiet as mice. But. "While the cat is away"... as long as nobody's after you and you don't feel any fear of getting caught stealing cheese or however you'de like to interpret. Well in that case, we, society, "do what we want." Now after the second time he says, "just to see what is"... he then says, "bird lights float into my room." Likely my favorite line of the song, as it serves nicely in accompaniment with the moon and the bird lights are most likely a reference to the stars. And he sees them very brightly. But for what they are... Beautiful flying birds which is what he is and what he can see in his room. But what can you see in your room? Perhaps a poster of Mr. Yorke? Do you go look at the stars and see what he sees? Probably not. Once again he wants the moon upon a stick to illuminate the darkness that is beneath as he dances around the pit so artfully with his words and music even as he loses his heart which drives him insane and what does he want at the end, still, after all that.... For YOU to listen to your heart, let go, and hopefully one day see what he sees and is really trying to say. First you got to unfurl though. |
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| Radiohead – Lotus Flower Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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dude... this literally has to be the stupidest, most backward approach to such a wonderfully beautiful song and to what the "occult" means. You are right, the occult is the unknown, but just because you don't know anything except what you read on conspiracy theory blogs, does not mean you have the right to spout it off on a site which is about song meanings. This song has nothing to do with Lucifer you dimwit. If anything it has to do with paying respect to God. Have you ever even watched the music video? Half way thru he puts his hands together as if to pray. And on the subject of free masons and what artists are introduced to in terms of secret societies and such... yes they certainly are member to them but they are forces of good not evil. The free masons are all about silent good works. They don't seek your appreciation for what they do nor do they give 2 cents whether they you think they worship snakes or the devil or whatever other kind of crazy ignorant bull$#*^ you can come up with. What I bet you would give to become a free mason or join a secret society that included incredible artists the likes of Radiohead. Probably quite a bit. However, you are likely, actually well, clearly far too entrenched in negative, pessimistic thinking to ever be worthy of anything except getting convinced to drink some unrefreshingly spiked kool-aid. cheers dude. |
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