The Trickster Lyrics

Lyric discussion by ECHi 

Cover art for The Trickster lyrics by Radiohead

kronur - and GS I feel like has got a lot of it very right.

Mythical characters in many cultures who are Trickster gods are also responsible for upsetting things off balance as stated - also referenced by "Rust in the mountains Rust in the brain" That is the act of Entropy - the returning of all things to their natural state of balance in this case. Steel to IronOxide (rust) as a metaphor for the total exhaustion of a thing.

The missing pieces round : "Long white gloves Police tread carefully Escaped from the zoo The perfect child facsimile"

The trickster is a girl, "child facsimile" as in young hot girl and is also "Escaped from the zoo" perhaps a bit of a beast as the 'Trickster,' the tease (This is only halfway) in "Long white gloves," looks like a lady but isn't.

Check out this reference to understand the possible type of girl with an "Electra Complex" who can be quite the trickster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electra_complex