| Radiohead – Codex Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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I'd like to give a shout out to matchboxmatt! The title of the song 'Lotus Flower' certainly draws attention to elements of Buddhist philosophy that seem to pervade K of L. Keep in mind, though, by the same token, Radiohead's other great song about water - Pyramid Song - shares the same themes identified by matchboxmatt as being expressed throughout King of Limbs, namely, the spiritual cycle of life, death, and rebirth, albeit filtered through Greek and Egyptian Mythology. Hence, my confidence in equating Thom's use of water with the River Styx, or perhaps even with the river Lethe ('Amnesiac'). Both Codex and Pyramid Song (and to some degree 'I Might Be Wrong') feature a protagonist who casts aside fear and doubt to jump into the water. But whereas Pyramid Song borrows heavily from Ancient Mythology, Codex, especially in the context of the album as a whole, seems imbued with Buddhist leanings. These songs are essentially the same, but their theme, though identical, is tackled from an entirely different philosophical lense. I think it is fair to say we are both on equal footing with our understanding and appreciation of the song. It is impressive how Thom's understanding of the spiritual cycle of life, death, and rebirth continues to evolve. |
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| Radiohead – Codex Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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Hi folks! I love 'Codex', but it struck me right away that it has more than a passing similarity to 'I Might Be Wrong' : Open up, begin again Let's go down the waterfall Think about the good times and never look back Never look back What would I do? What would I do? If I did not have you? Open up and let me in Let's go down the waterfall Have ourselves a good time It's nothing at all It's nothing at all Nothing at all Now, let's be clear: I'm not implying that Thom is simply recycling earlier Radiohead material - 'Codex' and 'I Might Be Wrong' are two completely different songs - but I do suggest that water is a recurring motif used by Thom to represent birth, re-birth, and escape to freedom (/'Heaven', possibly earned through one's death; especially with 'Codex', the song's ambiguity hints at a suicidal urge.) 'Codex' has a song structure and melody which subtly echoes both Pyramid Song and Spinning Plates. Lyrically, Pyramid Song begins: 'I jumped in the river and what did I see?' It ends: 'And we all went to heaven in a little row boat/There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt' Fear and doubt are also similarly grappled with and overcome by the protagonist in the first stanza of 'Codex', and in both songs the comfort is provided by the allure of the water itself. Combining lyrics from both songs: There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt/the water is clear and innocent. I Might Be Wrong: 'It's nothing at all.' So, with the water alternately described as either 'clear', or empty of anything, hence, imbuing a sense of nothingness which now consumes the protagonist, it seems all 3 songs deliver the protagonist into a state of blissful annihilation, either literally, or metaphorically. However, in 'Spinning Plates' the protagonist, now dead, is full of dread. There is an absence of bliss in his annihilation due to his self-awareness that, as his body is being carried down into the River Styx, he will be reincarnated only to likely experience the same BS he has lived through in previous incarnations. He can't break the cycle of life/death and rebirth which sees him time and again return into a nightmare world/system beyond his scope or understanding. This life/death cycle has happened so many times that to him it is akin to experiencing vertigo: 'And this just feels like spinning plates Our bodies floating down the muddy river' Just some thoughts- lol. Awesome song, Radiohead! |
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