Skirting on the Surface Lyrics
We're just skirting on the surface
We have only to click our fingers and we disappear
We're just skirting on the surface
Being drawn to the ledge
When we realize that once we're broken then nothing mends
We're just skirting on the surface
Until someone comes along and shakes us
And as the pattern lines cross their fingers like a web
Will we die upon the surface?
Being drawn to the ledge
When we realize that once we're broken then nothing mends
We're just skirting on the surface
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFVKWXHoBLA
Thom Yorke at the Echoplex, October 2, 2009
Will likely appear on Radiohead's eighth album in 2010.
When we realise we have only to dive and we're out of here We're just skirting on the surface We have only to click our fingers and we disappear We're just skirting on the surface Dull eyes trying to pull you through the ice Being drawn to the ledge When we realize that once we're broken nothing mends We're just skirting on the surface When we realize we're only held in suspension 'Til someone comes along and shakes us As the parallel lines cross the fingers like a web Will you dive-bomb the surface? Dull eyes trying to pull you through the ice Being drawn to the ledge When we realize that once we're...
When we realise we have only to dive and we're out of here We're just skirting on the surface We have only to click our fingers and we disappear We're just skirting on the surface Dull eyes trying to pull you through the ice Being drawn to the ledge When we realize that once we're broken nothing mends We're just skirting on the surface When we realize we're only held in suspension 'Til someone comes along and shakes us As the parallel lines cross the fingers like a web Will you dive-bomb the surface? Dull eyes trying to pull you through the ice Being drawn to the ledge When we realize that once we're broken nothing mends We're just skirting on the surface
Musically, one of his most beautiful songs. Lyrically, he seems to be talking about the superficiality of life, a constant Thom theme, and how fragile this reality really is. In fact, it's just a state of mind as is escape from it to a more meaningful, spiritual realm (not a religious reference though!).
I think it's about human complacency and how easy it is to get caught up in our own lives and forget that we can make real change in this world. "When we realize that once we're broken nothing mends We're just skirting on the surface" Skirting on the surface to me means ignoring what's going on in the world. Only paying attention to our own shallow lives, having our heads in the clouds and giving up on social change. "Will you dive-bomb the surface? Dull eyes trying to pull you through the ice Being drawn to the ledge" To me this means, "Will you open your eyes to what's going on in the world, or just buy what you're told...will you search for truth or live in a world of ignorance?" The "dull eyes" part referring to the people who live in a constant state of fear and who are ignorant to what goes on under the "surface". The ones that talk about how the apocalypse is coming and how it doesn't matter what we do because we're all going to die anyway. Being drawn to the edge is buying into that foolish logic. Giving up on making this world a better place.
it was finally released by the smile in 2023 such a great song