Lyrics for Videotape as interpreted by black_cow_of_death

Videotape Lyrics
When I'm at the pearly gates
This'll be on my videotape
My videotape
My videotape

Mephistopheles is just beneath
And he's reaching up to grab me

This is one for the good days
And I have it all here in
Red, blue, green
Red, blue, green

You are my centre when I spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape

This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it fact to face
So I'm talking to you before
No matter what happens now
I won't be afraid
Because I know
Today has been the most perfect day I have ever seen

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corgan
05-20-2006

Rated +2 
The real lyrics are as follows:

When I'm at the pearly gates
This'll be on my videotape
my videotape

When Mephistopholis is just beneath
And he's reaching up to grab me

This is one for the good days
And I have it all here
In red blue green
Red blue green

You are my centre when I spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape

This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it face to face

No matter what happens now
I won't be afraid
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen.

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corgan
05-20-2006

Rated 0 
Anyway, I'm happy to be first out on this one. It's gonna be a hell of a song when it comes out!

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ilovealkaline
06-05-2006

Rated 0 
It gives off that futuristic vibe from OK Computer!

The 'red blue green' bit is referring to tiny colors that form the colors on a screen, like a computer monitor. I'm very psyched to hear the final version of this one.

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catisinmybrain
06-08-2006

Rated 0 
beautiful song...took a few times for me to like it (like many radiohead songs), but now it's all i can hear (and that's a good thing). my favorite line is "you are my centre when i spin away." a song perhaps about dying and leaving a "videotape" (this may be metaphorical) of memories behind for a loved one.

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papel
06-10-2006

Rated 0 
Mephistopheles

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no_one69
06-12-2006

Rated +4 
how can radiohead keep doing it?
as a musician they constantly inspire me yet at the same time make me feel like giving up because i will never be able to write anything as brilliant as this. it's so simple yet so wonderful...
please keep writing music like this, i dont know what i would do without it

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1 Reply
HailtoKidA
06-16-2006

Rated 0 
What a tremendous song, had the oppurtunity of hearing it live in toronto. This new album is shaping up to be another masterpiece, I CAN'T WAIT!

New lyrics added

after the lyrics

"this is my way of saying goodbye
because i can't do it face to face"

at a recent show this line was added

"i'm talkin to you but it's too late, from my videotape"

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planetsoutofline
06-23-2006

Rated 0 
this song is absolutely beautiful
i can't wait to hear it
i saw them perform it at bonnaroo and fell inlove

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planetsoutofline
06-23-2006

Rated 0 
*can't wait to hear the mastered version i mean

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landonbain
06-26-2006

Rated 0 
"When Mephistophilis is just beneath/And he's reaching up to grab me."

Mephistopheles is a name given to one of the chief demons of Christian mythology that figure in European literary traditions.

The song is about being judged at the gates of heaven, and the "videotape" is a record of lead singer Thom Yorke's life.

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atomsplitter
07-02-2006

Rated +1 
Such a fucking beautiful song.

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starbrightgirrl
07-02-2006

Rated 0 
they've gone and done it again.

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Drewb18c1
07-03-2006

Rated 0 
you can tell that thom has put his heart and soul into this song. i have a feeling that this might be the new street spirit to thom. if you havent heard what thom has to say about street spirit, its difficult for him to perform because its so powerful to him that he feels physically worn out after playing it.

im wondering who the "you" is. his wife/son or is it the fans? also what is the goodbye about?

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tronistroy
07-17-2006

Rated 0 
its actually Mephistopheles

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pumkinhed
08-09-2006

Rated +3 
It sounds like a suicide note.

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2 Replies
Lailseax
08-16-2006

Rated 0 
I've only heard this for the first time today....and wow, of all the new songs i've heard this just blows me away. It is so beautiful and just, Oh i can't listen to it because it is 'too' beautiful.

"This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it face to face"

There is something so distressing about that line, it just shows how much emotion is packed into it, that face to face is just too much, the videotape is easier emotionally.

It would be interesting to hear more of the background to this song...

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Karma Police11
08-30-2006

Rated 0 
This song is one of the best out of the new stuff ive heard. I heard the song for the first time when they played in Boston and instantly fell in love. It has this melancholy feel to it that grabs you into the song. Just waiting now to hear it finished on the album

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_ellie
09-04-2006

Rated 0 
ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

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King of Some Island
09-17-2006

Rated 0 
I love this song, the new stuff is way better than HTTT

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eatenbytheworms
09-22-2006

Rated +3 
I don't think it's a suicide note. I think it's written from the perspective of someone who is away from the person he loves and the thought that he might die before he gets the chance to tell her pops into his head and so he decides to write this. The song itself could be the 'videotape moment' he is referring to. It is obviously written to someone he loves very much but that he is not able to express these feelings to. This is the person who is at the centre of his life and his thoughts at this moment. Such a beautiful and powerful song. I loved the Amsterdam 2 perfomance. It made me cry.

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lazyoldsun
10-30-2006

Rated 0 
man, this song is amazing. when phil's drum beat kicks in .. god damn.


basically i'd say this song is about amazement at the possible beauty life can offer, but also realizing that damaging behavior is often hard to escape, all the while becoming content and giving in to what is to come.

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YanYan108
11-07-2006

Rated 0 
I agree about the earlier comment about the song being about being judged at the Pearly Gates, the videotape being the record of his deeds that will decide whether he gets in or not.

He says "this will be on my videotape," because he knows that this relationship (could have been romantic, or just friendship) he's singing about will definitely be one of the shining spots on his record. He did all he could for this other person, and he's not sorry at all.

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YanYan108
11-07-2006

Rated 0 
Also, if this song appears on the next album (and it had better), I'd like it to be first.

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MyVideotape
02-20-2007

Rated 0 
This song is amazing. It really moved me. I thought Thom put a lot of emotion into "And It Rained All Night" But this has much more. The lyrics provided seem to be missing a few lines...I think this song could be about him looking back at his life and thinking of all the things he has done, and the videotape is like an analogy. The line the sounds like it could be suicidal, I don't think so, I think it may be like his past relationship has failed and now he doesn't even get to say goodbye face to face.

Mephistopheles is a messanger from the devil. If you want to learn more try googling it.

Amazing song

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Black Sativa
04-03-2007

Rated 0 
"This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it face to face"

Perhaps not judged from heaven. He's dying, and he's left this tape for his loved ones. Simplistic view, but I don't care.

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