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When I'm at the pearly gates
This will be on 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 center
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 face to face
I'm talking to you after it's too late
From my videotape
No matter what happens now
You shouldn't be afraid
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen
This will be on 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 center
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 face to face
I'm talking to you after it's too late
From my videotape
No matter what happens now
You shouldn't be afraid
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death, edited by Yazardshir
Track duration: 04:33
"Videotape" as written by Thomas Edward/greenwood Yorke
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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His "videotape" is a collection of all the memories that he has on earth. The first lines are about him stating: whatever happens today will be on his "videotape" when he's in heaven looking back at his life. He will be able to look on every single thing he has done in his life on his "videotape".
While he is on earth (present), the devil is trying to reach up and grab him. But he says "this is one for the good days", meaning today he resisted the devil's temptation and he is proud of himself.
Then he states that his God is his center, keeping him in line when he feels weak, or if he feels the devil is trying to grab him. Again all of this will be on his "videotape" when he's in heaven.
He says "This is my way of saying goodbye", saying goodbye to his body as he goes to heaven. He is wishing that his future self could give him advice, but that is obviously impossible, but the whole premise of the song: unfortunately (or fortunately) you can't have a future self to look back and give you advice
I love the last stanza. To me he is talking to himself (in the present). He has realized all he has written about up to this point of the song and now has the wisdom to tell himself he "shouldn't be afraid" because he knows everything will work out. He is telling himself what he knows, that no matter how hard life is on earth, that he just had the perfect day in heaven so dont be afraid
When I’m at the pearly gates
This will be on my videotape
My videotape
-Denoting a moment (e.g. a climax) that can only spawn the largest amount of reverence. Forever remembered by himself or herself as empirical, by having done it.
Mephistopheles is just beneath
And he’s reaching up to grab me
-Representative of an almost inexorable temptation; one that bestows unnecessary gifts, for the exchange of indignity and the lack of true substance and/or humanity.
This is one for the good days
And I have it all here In red, blue, green In red, blue, green
-The surmounting of this grand temptation. One that begs for an onlookers remembrance and celebration. To be used as an example for what it means to be truly independent in the most authentic sense for they’re holding steadfast to virtues: red, blue, green. E.g. honesty, loyalty, patience, generosity, etc. In the face of what bachelors so often fail to conquer with such veritable humanity.
You are my center when I spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape
- He/she admits to being human: foolhardy, caring, impulsive, careless, etc. Spinning away from the virtues that binds one to their dignity and substance. But there is a spectator watching. A lover; that idolizes, and is all but too familiar with the potential of this spectacle. E.g. the one that is out of control.
This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can’t do it face to face
So I’m talking to you before..
-A grand tragedy occurs; a paradoxical moment. When one goes against their practiced morals because it is the just thing to do outside of themselves. He/she communicates through his or her utilitarian choices made with their lover at the forefront of thought because the sight the lover left broken is unbearable. Removing oneself from his or her life because it is necessary, and if not done soon, the lesson that is to be learned will have been ill received. Ones actions done abroad have spoken louder than words presented within intimate confines. Like the overcoming of Mephistopheles, though, not in, or out of spite, only out of necessity.
The end of the verse implies, “So I’m talking to you before IT’S TOO LATE.
No matter what happens now
You shouldn’t be afraid
Because I know today has been the most
perfect day I’ve ever seen.
-The hurdle of the (earlier) Mephistopheles was a grand accomplishment; one be admired. Though “saying goodbye,” was the most perfect (e.g. honorable, admirable) gesture yet. It was an immense oppositional gesture made willfully. The loss of someone dear is taxing, though this loss is nothing to shroud. It is the spectacle of ones striving to remain true to ones values under the most treacherous of conditions that is to be openly celebrated, to keep the specter alive and let truth to oneself ripple on to others.
Mephistopheles was one for the good days, though it is you, one for the most perfect day that I have ever seen.
This'll be on my videotape
My videotape
My videotape
When Mephistophilis 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 face 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
"You are my centre when I spin away" might be him talking about his partner/the one he loves, as if he is trying to reassure them that if he does die, it wasn't their fault.
I don't really know, as I'm a relatively new fan of Radiohead, but yeah, those are my thoughts anyway.