Airbag

Let me first say that, despite what the booklet saids, I'm sure that the verse, "in a fast german car" is actually (listen carefully!) "I fly in a stolen car." I noticed with Radiohead sometimes the booklet and the actual sung verse don't match up.

In short, I think it's some kind of messianic theme with the airbag in the song symbolizing God. I think the jingle bells near the end of the song are an obvious reference to Christ.

Here's my detailed interpretation, line by line:

"In the next world war, jackknifed juggernaut" It's popular belief that Christ will return during a doomsday scenario such as a world war. It's also believed that he will come as an unstoppable and powerful force; which would explain the "jacknifed juggernaut" line.

"I am born again" No one truly knows how he will return. Maybe he's reincarnated like this verse may suggest.

"In a neon sign, scrolling up and down, I am born again" Like a bright neon sign, his existence will be made known to the world in an obvious manner.

"In an interstellar burst, I'm back to save the universe" His coming will be sudden and in an instant.

"In a deep, deep sleep of the innocent, I am born again" Again, no one truly knows how Christ will return. Call it a stretch, but I believe this verse is suggesting that Christ will be "awakened" within someone ("the innocent"). This interpretation is supported by the next line...

"And I fly in a stolen car, I'm amazed that I survived" I think the "stolen car" is a metaphor for someone's life. The "innocent someone" may have been going through life not knowing who he/she was (hence, a "stolen life") until...

"an airbag saved my life" The airbag being a metaphor for God in this verse, God saves this person's life by helping him/her realize who she was.

Yea, I know... this interpretation is a little far-fetched and a bit too imaginative but I came to interpret it in this way due to other facts. I find it interesting how a lot of Radiohead songs ("Where I End and You Begin" "Arpeggi" "Prove Yourself" "Paranoid Android" etc.) seem to have religious undertones in them (note the image of Christ on the back of the Pablo Honey album). I sometimes wonder if Radiohead is actually a "Christian" band under the guise as being mainstreamed. If I'm right, they're doing an awesome job at being subtle, something that religious bands should take note of and stop spouting heartless crap like "Jesus loves you! Halleluhah!"