When I'm at the pearly gates
This will be on my videotape, my videotape
Mephistopheles is just beneath
And he's reaching up to grab me

This is one for the good days
And I have it all here
In red, blue, green
In red, blue, green

You are my center
When I spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape

This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it face to face
So I'm talking to you before
No matter what happens now
You shouldn't be afraid
Because I know today has been
The most perfect day I've ever seen


Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death, edited by Paymaan

Videotape Lyrics as written by Edward John O'brien Colin Charles Greenwood

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Videotape song meanings
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  • +6
    General Comment

    As much as it worries me, I think this song is a rather straightforward goodbye.

    The most important bit of the lyrics, I think, is the "when" at the beginning of the first two stanzas. He's not dead, and he's not being judged. But when it's all over, "this" will be on his videotape. "This", I think is "the most perfect day I've ever seen".

    Now here's where my notion of it may lead me astray. It seems like "No matter what happens now," and "This is my way of saying goodbye because I can't do it face to face." mean that the person is leaving something(someone) they know and love. Not going into danger, just going away.

    Other people in other places have speculated that this song is Radiohead's farewell to their fans.

    fortheloveon October 09, 2007   Link

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