Lyrics for Bishop's Robes as interpreted by shut

Bishop's Robes Lyrics
Dressed in bishop's robes
Terrifies me still
In bishop's robes
Bastard headmaster

I'm not going back
I'm not going back
I'm not going back

Children taught to kill
To tear themselves to bits
On playing fields
Dressed in bishop's robes

I'm not going back
I'm not going back
I'm not going back

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cakeordeath
02-26-2002

Rated 0 
Radiohead began taking shape at Abingdon school, expensive private place with a strict conservative headmaster. He looked like he'd stepped out of the 19th century, went in for the academic gown wearing thing, hence "Bishop's robes". The second verse is a reference to the competitive nature that can seemingly be encouraged at schools like Abingdon and how this tended to manifest itself on the rugby field.

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boss_2k
05-31-2004

Rated 0 
Thom has repeatedly stated this song has nothing to do with his old headmaster, but it has to be said that it really looks like it does. Perhaps he's trying to spare the feelings of his now aged "bastard headmaster," who is said to be very proud of his former schoolboys.

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CÆT
12-09-2004

Rated 0 
the lyrics are too abstract, you can't undestand the song unless you listen to it, screw what the lyrics are.

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HijackedAffairs
02-20-2006

Rated 0 
First time hearing it blew me away, Radiohead could be the Beatles if they wanted to. Wow, that may have been the greatest first listening I have ever had. Deeply moving moment.

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btherl
05-16-2006

Rated 0 
It's entirely to do with the headmaster. In a concert in 1995 in Stockholm he introduced the song with:

"This is a song, this is a new song called Bishop's Robes. This is about an old headmaster we had, cause we went to the same school, cause we're sad. It's about him, and he suddenly decided he was close to God, cause he was a useless headmaster. But now he's a fascist idiot. And this song is about him"

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Drewb18c1
05-16-2006

Rated 0 
i read that Thom wasnt the happiest kid at abingdon and was often bullied (his lazy eye probably didnt help). i would have been surprised if he hadnt written a song about his dislike for the traditional boarding school. perhapse bishop's robes was made a b-side because the song doesnt have any profound ideas and it is simply about his bad experiences at abingdon.

i spent a year at st. edwards school which is another boarding school right down the road from abingdon in oxford. i can completely relate to thom

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quietwar
09-25-2006

Rated 0 
Aw poor Thom. Thom you're fucking awesome.
i wonder if any of his old bullies are fans of his music.

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YanYan108
10-23-2006

Rated 0 
It's funny that Thom later denied that the song was about his headmaster. What, did the guy threaten to sue or something?

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btherl
06-24-2007

Rated 0 
I think he's just being nice.. maybe he met up with the headmaster later and realized that he was only doing what he thought was best. It's never too late to forgive.

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forgotten412
07-29-2007

Rated 0 
Hypocrisy, someone in religious/school/adult authority teaching children to 'kill' (this always reminds me of primary school, standing in a line on the playing field for the people to pick who will be on their team and always being last because I'm hopeless at sport). "Tear themselves to bits," could mean not only tearing each other to bits, but also themselves- competition of sport/school/life and how that may ruins ones self worth if one doesn't accept it.

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