| Radiohead – Videotape Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I'll try line by line (only what i think) 'When I'm at the Pearly Gates' When I die/am dead (pearly gates is a reference to the gates to heaven) 'This'll be on my Videotape' Videotape probably means a note he leaves behind, could be a suicide note, a will, or some sort of last goodbye. 'When Mephistophilis is Just Beneath, and He's Reaching Up To Grab Me' Mephistophilis is a demon from a German folklore story. In the tale, the protagonist named Faust sells his soul to Mephistophilis as he is not satisfied with where he has been able to get to in life. The name Faust is now sometimes used as a name for someone who at the expense of their moral integrity resorts to extraordinary means to achieve goals. The line is possibly to say that he won't be entering heaven as he has made a deal with the devil and Mephistophilis will now grab him and take him to hell. 'This is one for the good days' Disregard what will happen now and to try and remember the 'good days' 'And I Have It all Here in Red Blue Green' Red Blue Green (RGB) is the colour system used in most visual film. This line is referring to the previous line and saying that the videotape is a reminder to the 'good days.' 'You Are My Center When I Spin Away' When something spins, centrifugal force is what causes things to be sent away (like if you spin quickly and your arms flail outwards). The very center however is not sent outwards as it is spinning but not moving like the rest of the object. This line is like saying you are something to hold onto and not be flung away and out of control. 'Out of Control on Videotape' Saying again how the content of the videotape contains reminders of past days, when they were 'spinning' and the narrator was holding onto the person now watching his videotape. 'This Is My Way of Saying Goodbye' Supports the idea that the videotape is a farewell message 'Because I can't do it face to face' The topic is difficult to talk about likely due to what has happened and why he is now leaving. 'So I'm Talking To You Before...' He is leaving this message rather than have the person find another way that he is gone. 'No Matter What Happens Now' It is unclear what is going to happen now, only that he's leaving. 'You Shouldn't Be Afraid' Ties in with previous line, saying that there is no reason to be afraid despite the unclear and possibly treacherous time ahead. 'Because I Know Today Has Been the Most Perfect Day I Have Ever Seen' While he say's a single day, it may be referring the time leading up to now. The line tells the person that it has still been great up to now. After thinking about if for a while, I believe the song is about keeping a large secret from a partner or close friend and leaving suddenly. Possibly because they are going to die, or because they have done something bad that causes them to feel like they can't be with them. The pearly gate line makes it sound like they're dying. But the Mephistophilis line makes it sound like it's something bad he has done. It could also be both. The narrator is calling for the person to not be mad at what they've done or sad that they are leaving but to be happy of the time they have had. (I've used the official lyrics from my record sleeve, and not the ones above) |
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| Radiohead – Videotape Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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I'll try line by line (only what i think) When I'm at the Pearly Gates When I die/am dead (pearly gates is probably a reference to the gates to heaven) This'll be on my Videotape Videotape probably means the kind of note he leaves behind, could be a suicide note, a will, or some sort of last goodbye. When Mephistophilis is Just Beneath, and He's Reaching Up To Grab Me Mephistophilis is a demon from |
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