I Am a Wicked Child Lyrics
For I am a wicked child
I have sinned and I am so confused and
I am a wicked child
I am a wicked child
I wish I could be good for you
I walk a crooked mile
But I wish I could be good
I wish I could be good
If I could have kept the straight and narrow
And not have broke your heart
Not have broke your heart
Lying on my bed
It's tugging at my arms and legs
Like I was a marionette
Surely it is time
Send baby Jesus
Let him radiate his light
Radiate his light
Radiohead is the most post-modern band on the planet today, and perhaps the least religious. Everything about Radiohead is post-modern - not pertaining to one genre, (in fact being an amalgamation of almost everything from Dixieland jazz to minimal electro...) to the issue of Thom singing from a multitude of perspectives giving us insight (and I use that word loosely), into the fragmented world that we live in today. No, Radiohead would never sing a song that is in support of Religion (any religion for that matter) as it would be suggesting that there is a central "truth" to existence, which is entirely impossible due to the fact that there is more than six-billion perceptions affecting how we experience our lives. This song is pure satire, written from the perspective of a religious person who is struggling to come to terms with human desire within the christian framework. Conclusion? Religion is far from the key. There is no truth. 2+2=5
I once read an article written by someone who believed that Tool is a christian band. This is indeed hilarious considering the whole occult/Aleister Crowley connection here. Seems to be that there are far too many people projecting their beliefs onto reality and at the same time, believing the reflection they receive is universal truth. So bizarre.
I once read an article written by someone who believed that Tool is a christian band. This is indeed hilarious considering the whole occult/Aleister Crowley connection here. Seems to be that there are far too many people projecting their beliefs onto reality and at the same time, believing the reflection they receive is universal truth. So bizarre.
I think here Thom has written about the effects that devout religious parents have on their children. In the Catholic Church, at least, every one is told they are born with original sin. So in this song, it seems like a boy is praying for forgiveness because someone has ingrained in him the idea that, even if you're an innocent child, every human is inherently evil. Of course, this can really fuck with a kid's mind and I think that's what is being pointed out in this song.
It is a satirical song, and anyone thinking otherwise is injecting too much of their own personal beliefs into the song.
Based on the lyrics, though, it truly is a satirical song.
He's singing it from the perspective of someone who has been told that they're evil. Either due to their own personal beliefs, or some other reason. The song jokingly says that they wish to be saved.
He's only confused because someone told him he was confused. He felt perfectly fine before, but now that someone has tried to feed him religion, it's starting to haunt him at night.
It pulls at his arms and legs as if though he were a marionette - a puppet.
The last verse is asking to please send Jesus, because he feels it's about time. If Jesus truly is real, then he should already be here.
I understand how some of you are confusing this as a pro-Christianity song, but it truly isn't. Analyze it lyric for lyric, and you'll see that it is a satirical song.
As far as Thom's beliefs, I'd GUESS that he's atheist or agnostic. However, he could be Christian. The fact that he sometimes alludes to religious material in his songs means nothing. Countless song writers and authors have used Christian themes in their work without actually being a Christian. In fact, I myself am an atheist, and I can proudly say that I do read the bible. I'm not religious, but I'll read anything worth reading.
i like this song for its uniqueness from other radiohead songs. the harmonica in it is excellent. i can't wait to hear radiohead's next album with banjos
this song was played during a Radiohead webcast on march 23, 2000 and hasnt been played since
It was recently released as a B-side.
part of this was on the radiohead site when amnesiac came out.
Its now been released on the ComLag Lp: get it without fail!
I think the second line says "for" not "cause" which makes it sound more... biblical. Furthermore, the ComLag release now reads as follows:
"Send baby Jesus To radiate his light To radiate his light"
The song's about what it seems- sin, and attempts to resist sin. Its odd to hear Thom talk about "Mother Mary" and "Baby Jesus," as he's not a very religious man. However he has said that being a father has made him contemplate the deeper meaning of life further. Either way, its a cracker, one of the best on the EP- which, by the way, is out for general release soon! Hurrah!
Send baby jesus Let him radiate his light Radiate his light
The idea of Jesus the as a lightbringer is interesting, as the latin word for lightbringer is "Lucifer" This also means morning star, and "Lucifer" in the bible is never used to describe satan, it was a name that was given him later:
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.
I was contemplating and tripping out on this stuff when this album came out, which was an extra cool coincidence.