Radiohead – Up on the Ladder

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Send "Up on the Ladder" Ringtone to Cell

I'm stuck in the Tardis
Trapped in hyperspace
One minute, snake charming
The next in a motorcade

All the right moves and in the right place
Watch my dance, I'm a puppet
You can almost see the string

Give me an answer
Give me a line
I've been climbing up this ladder
I've been wasting my time

Up on the ladder, out of time to escape
Up on the ladder, we wait for your mistake
Up on the ladder, trying to crawl out the way
Up on the ladder, you're all the fucking same

Send "Up on the Ladder" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by ruben


Up on the Ladder song meanings
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42 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think he sings 'One minute snake charming, The next day I'm not ok'. It could be either I suppose but it is a brilliant song and should have been on the proper album rather than the bonus. I am guessing it is just about modern life in general though.
    Flag graemeprycon October 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:technically it's TARDIS, as it's an acronym.
    Flag grammardickon January 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's the Doctor! 'Nuff said.
    Flag gui12345on June 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The music in this song is fucking great!!! Sounds like being the typical human being controlled by a higher power. You think you're moving up, but you're actually right where they want you to be...where they allow you to be!
    Flag radioxon December 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:RE: My earlier comment above, also meant to say...

    Not only the song's lyrics but the music itself makes me think this song has an alternate meaning.

    There is a heavily sexual vibe/undertone to the entire song.
    Flag Lantaon June 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:RE: My earlier comment above, also meant to say...

    Not only the song's lyrics but the music itself makes me think this song has an alternate meaning.

    There is a heavily sexual vibe/undertone to the entire song.
    Flag Lantaon June 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Given Thom's interest in socio-political and environmental issues - not to mention his disillusionment with world leadership during the Blair/Bush era - I have NO DOUBT that Up On the Ladder was originally written from this persepective. It seems to be a statement about the nature of politics/politicians... as well as a kind of lament from an ordinary citizen's POV that neither we, nor our elected politicians have been able to bring about effect change. ("I'm a puppet"... "I've been wasting my time"... "You're all the fucking same" etc).

    However, the song's inclusion on the 2-disc edition of In Rainbows causes to me to view its meaning in a very different light. Think of UotL as the evil twin brother to Faust Arp if you will.

    Looking at it this way, the lyrics seem to suggest a man who's in emotional torment because the object of his infatuation will not give him a straight answer regarding where their (non)relationship is heading. In other words, he's losing patience and starting to see her as a prick-tease ("you're all the fucking same") - though he seems equally angry with himself, and is beginning to lose it big-time.
    Flag Lantaon June 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think anyone myself included has the lyrics right to this song. It really sounds like he says up on the ladder where I talk to a steak, LOL up on the ladder, we wait for your mistake. I don't, however, believe that's what he's saying. Nevertheless, nothing anyone else has posted makes any sense or remotely makes me think yeah, that's it. Regardless, this song is sheer perfection as are most of their songs. I looove love love it.
    Flag VEDOSUNon September 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I LOVE this song. Love it. Its perfect. Amazing. Damn. only Radiohead can make me feel this way.
    Flag ThomBjork225on June 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:"All the right moves and in the right place
    Watch my dance, I'm a puppet
    You can almost see the string"

    the nasa apollo moon landings?
    Flag adioheadon May 22, 2009   Link
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