Alligators in New York Sewers Lyrics
Running around this house
And he never leaves
He will never leave
And the fog comes up from the sewers
And glows in the dark
Grow up fast
Anything you want, it can be done
How did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
Some things will never wash away
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
Fog. Not Fog. What the heck does the song reference, guys? That's the million dollar question! Is it about never being able to escape a bad upbringing....like carrying heavy baggage with you at all times and you just can't lose it (ie won't "wash away"). GREAT band regardless.
This song is incorrectly named. The actual name of this song is "Fog".
This was the original name of Fog.
This was the original name of Fog.
There's a solid chance the name of the song references Thomas Pynchon's novel V. which has a part dealing with one of the main characters joining the hunt for alligators in the sewers of New York.
The reason why it's a solid chance is because Radiohead's W.A.S.T.E. shop is named after a secret post system in TP's second book, The Crying of Lot 49.
This title is the original title that was on the bootlegs when Radiohead played it live in the time between Ok Computer and the official release on Com Lag where it achieved the title Fog.
This song is a parent's point of view, lamenting his child's loss of innocence. The first stanza is reminiscing the innocence of his/her child's childhood. The second is lamenting the child's fall from innocence. The child may or may not have been brought up in a ruff NY neighborhood. Fog represents memories.