| Radiohead – Knives Out Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I had no verse interpretation to offer because I was commenting merely because I did so on the other two songs as to the message behind "Knives Out", but upon thinking about the lyrics. The drowning dog is basically saying you are good for nothing, lame, worthless, you go through life in your own world without bothering to let anyone in, essentially, you are unable to bark, you are unable to show affection of any kind. The mouse is you, the you that is full of fear, and is controlled by that fear and your insecurities. Look into my eyes is referenced in two separate verses because it is something people affected by this fear of communication and connection (love) cannot do. And when they are able to make eye contact with someone they would like to engage, they are only doing it for self-satisfaction, justification that they are worth something but they end up letting the person down in the end by leading their wallpaper lives. (this is referenced in Cuttooth "build you up to pull you down..."). This is my take on the whole single anyway. I'm fairly sure this was what he was saying, at least it's what I head. |
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| Radiohead – Knives Out Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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This song is about being hung up on an old love, and not being able to get on with your life. It is about peoples insecurities with opening and communicating with new people because of old relationships, hopes you futilely hold on to, and your fears. This song, as I see it, is essentially about sex. I dont interpret the 'Knives Out' as a penis, but it could be. I see 'Knives Out' as you have to sever and cut off all of the things you hold on to, because it has you pinned down to a point in your life where you cannot grow, where you are controlled by your insecurities and fears. You are scared of people, connecting with people, and sharing yourself with them. All 3 songs off the Single (Cuttooth, Life in a Glass House) are all about this central theme, atleast I strongly feel so. Most of the interpretations Ive found here try to be a bit too insightful, going off on crazy tangents, or are just completely out there. But everyone is allowed an opinion, and none of ours matter anyway. The "Knives Out" single is a beautiful work, Cuttooth and Life in a Glass house, definitely my two most favorite songs from Radiohead. |
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| Radiohead – Cuttooth Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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As I just posted on the 'Life In A Glass House' page, this song along with the rest of the 'Knives Out' single is an aversion and fear of people, of communication, of connecting with strangers or friends. Leading the wallpaper life is watching life pass you by as you do nothing, because of your insecurities. Your insecurities eventually overwhelm you and you run away. The tanks are you, destroying yourself and those around you because you cannot just get over your insecurities. A little bit of NOISE will destroy you, if you would just make an effort to speak and communicate you could get past all of this. The chorus is stating the problem, you feel skinned alive because of all the damage you cause yourself from just constantly having these insecurities and not overcoming them. Run away until you get tired of running and your ready to face your fears, or you find a way. The build you up to pull you down is playing games with people, starting something with them, engaging them and then just ignoring them, throwing them away. Its a shitty place to be, to put yourself out there and receive nothing from the other person because they are so insecure. You find another skin to where when you get tired of indulging in your fears and playing these games. Knives Out is essentially saying you have to sever all of this shit from yourself because it will get you nowhere, you have to forget your past and move on. |
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| Radiohead – Life in a Glasshouse Lyrics | 18 years ago |
| To add, the old friend is just this problem that is always there and you cannot or will not overcome, but you see it clearly every time, and still you do nothing. | |
| Radiohead – Life in a Glasshouse Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I have very different thoughts on this song than what has been mentioned. This song, along with the rest of the songs of the 'Knives Out' single is about letting go of the fear that grips you and stops you from communicating, opening up and engaging the people around you, whether they be friends or strangers. The first verse is illuminating when someone is trying to tell you they want to engage you in conversation by body language or some other means that you can feel, living in a glass house you are always on display for everyone, and some people walk around gripped by fear constantly. Then Thom's usual wonderfully unique imagery describing the state of these people, followed with "Think of all the starving millions" hungry for a connection, love, sex, just some recognition of any kind. The chorus is pointing to the people afflicted by this fear of communication's insecurities. "Once again, we are hungry for a lynchin' ", is saying even though the people being described realize all of this, they still ignore everyone and do not change, heads downcast in the end. I don't believe it has much to do with media as it does with human behavior. The themes of "Cuttooth" and "Knives Out" are also about this aversion to communication and letting yourself go. |
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