| Radiohead – Optimistic Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Another way of exploring meanings of this song is from the biological / ecological / evolutionary perspective: first verse: Everything is just trying to secure natural resources, and we should not be judgemental about it. Flies, vultures, and large critters eating smaller / weaker ones shouldn't be of any concern - everything needs the resources, including us. second verse: All organisms are optomistic about gaining their resources (it's in our genetic programing), but we are all destined to becoming resources for other organisms - when pigs go to market, they are butchered and consumed, as old forms of life become inadequate, new forms rise up "out of the swamp." Dropping a payload is taking a dump. Even dung is a resource for other animals. We're ALL animals living on the same farm - consuming and providing resources. third verse: "I'd really like to help you" = altruism doesn't necessarily pay off as far as my chances at surviving and reproducing. "Nervous... marionette." = We are a puppet for our DNA - our behaviors (self preservation, resource consumption, reproduction) are only a reflection of the DNA's 'desire' for replication of itself. "Prison ship" = planet Earth. last part: "Dinosaurs roaming the earth" Despite each organisms optimism for reproduction, all species are destined for extinction. We're the dinosaurs - currently dominating the planet, but not forever. |
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