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I slip away
I slipped on a little white lie
We've got heads on sticks
You've got ventriloquists
We've got heads on sticks
You've got ventriloquists
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
The rats and children follow me out of town
The rats and children follow me out of town
Come on kids
I slipped on a little white lie
We've got heads on sticks
You've got ventriloquists
We've got heads on sticks
You've got ventriloquists
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
Standing in the shadows at the end of my bed
The rats and children follow me out of town
The rats and children follow me out of town
Come on kids
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First verses are about losing your childmind, created by parents and popculture.
then the best part, what is the best way to divide humans? by men and women
heads on sticks are penises
ventriloquists is that women can have children
next part is just about death, DEATH IS COMING EVEN WHILE WE ARE ASLEEP! shit man thats big.
and the last part is about music, its a kind of magic, so c'mon kid! why you have to work if you can do magic?! rats only want to hide in their coffins with many floors, you can be magic!
its a sick song, one of my favourites
The line "we've got heads on sticks" refers to Radiohead suddenly being perceived as "the voice of a generation" (or similarly, as mere puppets/talking heads of the music industry) - while the line "you've got ventriloquists" accuses the music media of putting words in Thom's (and the other band members' mouths) in order to cement an image of him as a melancholic (possibly doomed) prophet of rock - ie: the next Kurt Cobain.
In the song, Thom himself recognises that this is a false image, built on the (mis)interpretation of his lyrics/personality and the band's collective intent.
In the darkly humorous (or ominous, depending on your take) last line, Thom cajoles the "rats and the children" to follow him out of town ("c'mon kids"), aware that many people (music journos, fans?) may eventually feel as if they'd been lead astray or deceived by the band they'd previously seen as the "saviours of rock" when they encounter the new musical direction taken on Kid A, the album.
I don't think the lyrics are personal to Thom. Motion Picture Soundtrack, now that's a deeply personal song. HTDC is a deeply personal song. I don't get that feel from Kid A.
I'm surprised nobody's made comparasions between this and Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors. They're very similar from my POV. Kid A and Amnesiac are about a single event, something traumatic. The songs are about someone trying to process what's happened going through anger (Idioteque, You and Whose Army), sadness (Motion Picture Soundtrack), and paranoia (The National Anthem, Life In A Glass House). The lyrics in Kid A and Pulk/Pull are simple and child-like, because it's from the perspective of a child. That's what Thom means by 'distancing himself from the subject matter'. The protagonist is in shock and denial. Either he's a child or he's recessed to a child-like state.
Kid A is a nursery rhyme. It's the way a child can make sense of the world. Horrific things are happening, and he turns it into a game, playing with heads on sticks, living at the end of his bed.
That's all what I get from Thom's comments and general impressions of the music. The following is just my personal interpretation.
I'm pretty sure the Kid A/Amnesiac arc is about a kidnapping/hostage situation. It's told from many perspectives.
Everything In It's Right Place: The kidnapping. Stunned bewilderment. Trying to recollect what happened, and deal with the trauma.
Kid A: Rationalization. Figuring out what's going on, making the best of it. Turning it into a game.
The National Anthem: Cynicism. Paranoia. Either it's the public's reaction to the events, the hostage's feelings afterward, or the events and moods that caused the antagonist to do all this. I think it's all of them together.
How To Disappear Completely: Frightened out of your mind. Probably dealing with abuse. Rape? Watching another hostage die? A mock execution? Could be anything.
Treefingers: A break. It's a slow, rubato song. Squeezing every minute out of the time you have alone. Trying to recover before the next horror.
Optimistic: I think this is from the kidnapper's perspective. A desperate man, rationalizing his actions. Everyone has their job. We all try the best we can.
In Limbo: The kidnapping itself. Not really aware what's going on, you just know you're going somewhere. Falling away. Then, you wake up.
Idioteque: The police's perspective. Save women and children first. Think of the children. Threatening the kidnappers, 'we're not scare-mongering', you WILL go to prison. This is really happening.
Morning Bell: Counting the steps to the door. Not thinking of anything but escape.
Motion Picture Soundtrack: This from an ex-lover, someone who sees this happening on the news. Knowing someone you loved could die at any minute. Worry. Regret.
Packt Like Sardines In a Crushd Tin Box: The stirrings of rebellion against the kidnappers. Beginning to stand up for yourself.
Pyramid Song: Tricky, but I think it's about finding peace with God, coming to terms with your death. Nothing to fear, nothing to doubt.
Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors: Trying to blot out something. Stating nonsense about doors to try and rationalize your way through this. Self-inflicted amnesia.
You And Whose Army: Calling out the enemy. Getting ready to fight, even though you're scared to death. Could be from anyone's perspective.
I Might Be Wrong: From the kidnapper's perspective. You've planned everything out, but if you screwed up in the slightest, you're going to jail. Wondering how you ended up here, thinking about the good times before crime.
Knives Out: Police's perspective. You've just lost a hostage. Putting away grief, self-blame, and taking your knives out. Getting ready to fight, do your job.
Morning Bell/Amnesiac: Hard to say, but I think this is about more distant hope than the other Morning Bell. You're not escaping anytime soon, all you can do is dream.
Dollars And Cents: Ransom. Hostages are dollars and cents. Thinking about things pragmatically. Making a deal. Being constructive. Quiet down so we can sort this out.
Hunting Bears: This is something really horrible. This is the part when it all goes to hell. Hostages escaping and being shot? Police breaking in and shooting the kidnappers?
Like Spinning Plates: Injury. Resentment. No fear, just sadness and regret. Wishing things hadn't turned out this way.
Life In A Glass House: The aftermath. Trying to go back to your day-to-day life, but there's always a feeling someone's watching, listening in. You can't return to the way things were, this experience has scarred you.
Anyways, that's the way I see it.
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You have to mix Kid A and Amnesiac together to get the narrative. The transitions happen at "Morning Bell" and that is why the song appears twice. The first Morning Bell from Kid A is when he gets his divorce. The second Morning Bell is when he remembers what he had (he is am amnesiac) and when he comes to terms with that he falls through the doors.
Here is the song line up:
Kid A
Optimistic
Life In A Glass House
Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box
Morning Bell (Kid A)
I Might Be Wrong
How to Disappear Completely
Everything In Its Right Place
Knives Out
Motion Picture Soundtrack
Untitled
In Limbo
Dollars and Cents
National Anthem
You And Whose Army?
Idioteque
Morning Bell/Amnesiac
Like Spinning Plates
Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors
Treefingers
Pyramid Song
Hunting Bears