Radiohead – 4 Minute Warning

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  General Comment:I think the cold war imagery evoking the "4 minute warning" is a metaphor for facing an uncomfortable reality, the moment of clarity when the consequences are inevitable, the hiatus between realising the unavoidable truth and consequences after the time when any action to avert the impending impact is futile. Hence the opening lyric "should've known way back". I think it's irrelevant whether that is a drug addict, alcoholic, criminal looking back on his actions prior to conviction, perhaps a morally wayward person contemplating the ruinous future. Just the literal, historical 4 minute warning seems a little prozaic to me.

  Flag TheGreyGhoston April 03, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:"stepping over heads" provokes such dark imagery even for thom yorke.
  how much worse could it get than being in a field covered with dead bodies and you're trying to escape?

  Flag derykon February 16, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:This song was in the HBO Documentary "Gasland" I think it's great for the film. Really fits the theme.

  Flag IncuFoo19on February 22, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I think it has to be a reference about nuclear bombs/war, but it could be a metaphor about just trying to run or get away from any negative situation in your life. It seems as a lot of radiohead songs have multiple meanings...also, this song is incredible, dark, i love it!

  Flag radioxon December 21, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:This song sounds so pretty, but is so sad at the same time. Classic Radiohead I guess, lol. I really love how the voices in the background start sounding more and more like sirens as the song goes on.

  Flag BlueMondayson October 11, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:every day, my mind is filled with an irrational fear and desperation for hours and hours. i don't know what is real and what is not. all my sickest fears seem like a reality. after everything goes away and the screaming becomes whispering i understand its all in my head. but when its happening i can't tell. its a nightmare every day. every time. this song gives me hope. soon i'm gonna wake up.

  Flag thewhirlwindwayon August 03, 2010   Link

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    when i thought about what you said and listened to it. i started to cry

    Flag iamritchieon September 29, 2010  
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  General Comment:this song gives me goosebumps

  Flag TheMoonTellsMEaSecreton July 29, 2010   Link

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  Song Meaning:I believe the song is speaking of WWIII, in a few other Radiohead songs they sing of WWIII. Thom Yorke mentions this in a interview. Of course the song could be about any war though.

  Flag JohnBearclawFullmeron June 08, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:It is a song literally about bombing but it is a metaphor for how one faces death. Not just immediate death but the idea that you will die sooner or later. It's comparing the terror of the four minutes of warning that comes with a bombing and a lifetime of terror from the realization that you will die.

  Flag HijackedAffairson April 22, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:Listening to this song is like watching the world end.

  Flag aynon December 30, 2009   Link

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