Lotus Flower

This is an example of sheer brilliance and a writing ability that is matched by few. This is how someone is able to inspire others and educate them and make them thirst for more. Bravo! Not only did you explain the song beyond anything anyone could think humanly possible, but you did it in such a way as to leave the reader with an unmatched sense of awe. I do believe I have a feeling of floating. Again, bravo!

...i agree, such sensuality.

thank you...<br /> did you know... that's what hearing music is...<br /> listening to your heart

A pilgrimage to the land of milk and honey...beautiful...I am speechless...

Wow! thank you for such beautiful interpretation. I am speechless.

@PilgrimSantiago Don Draper?

@PilgrimSantiago Fucking nailed it!

The Lotus is the symbol of the single dogma of Buddhism: that even the lowest person as the root of the lotus is in the foulest mud can become the purest cleanest flower. Not even dust will stick to the petals of a lotus. Non-attachment is enlightenment. The lotus flower is the symbol of believing in the possibility of one's own enlightenment.<br /> <br /> The moon is also a Buddhist symbol: it only reflects the light of the sun imperfectly, as a person only reflects, imperfectly, one's experience of the surroundings. Since we have choice of how we reflect our world, as we can change our own mind, we each have the opportunity to teach others how to become free (be a Buddha). Having that on a stick means being able to control one's own mind, which is another way of saying enlightenment.<br /> <br /> The second person in the song is trying to feed their ego, which is the opposite of enlightenment. Maybe that person is spiritually better off in a self deprecating addiction, or they would get a fat head.

Awesome!

STANDING OVATION!!!! Dude ... you nailed it with this explanation... I don't think I could have said it better myself..... Thomas Yorke has an artistry to his lyrics that no matter how many times you listen to his songs, there is a deeper meaning.... And notice how he uses the Lotus Flower which as you said is a religious symbol for Buddhism. Are you familiar with the Buddhist saying "If you meet the Buddha on the road kill him"?..... Yorke is kind of referring to that saying in the meaning of this song.... Once you think you have figured out what he is trying to say "kill it" and go deeper and look again..... Also the thing about a Lotus Flower is that is blooms fresh every day.... Meaning each day his music can have a new meaning .... Only again strengthening what is is saying about always digging deeper into what he is saying, because there is much more there than what we first see or even see after 100 times of listening to the same song by him....GENIUS!!!! Thank you for this explanation man....

@F8TBoy100 You nailed it.

So even as he struggles to understand this loss- he alternates between power-trips (ego defenses) & innocent thoughts that are more or less romantic ideas and disingenuous declarations to himself and his lover.<br /> <br /> Particularly interesting is the last line of several verses Listen to your heart.<br /> As if to say--save yourself..from me..or is he talking to himself? :)<br /> That is the beauty of abstract lyrics and to this particular line, I will leave open for you to ruminate! :)<br /> <br /> Now if you're warmed up lol--keep reading for verse reflections! <br /> <br /> <br /> I will shake myself into your pocket<br /> Invisible<br /> Do what you want<br /> Do what you want<br /> <br /> ---This is a sense to gain control of a sinking ship (ie his lost love) even though he is likely the captain who sank it!<br /> A last minute futile attempt to blow life into the coal splintered ashes that are bound to go out......some provocation thrown on purpose to his lover, because even anger is an involved emotion--anything is better than the closed door of indifference.<br /> <br /> I will shake and I will disappear<br /> I will slip into the groove and cut me off<br /> And cut me off<br /> ---This one is kind of weird because here we see borderline personality, first he plays the tyrant, and now the waif lover.. <br /> As if to attempt to get the lover back when a sense of power has failed to convince her..now he tries to bring the attention to his fragility.<br /> <br /> ..even more interesting to consider is the "slip into the groove and cut me off" This part kind of applies to Thom on a personal level as I read an article about how Thom openly mentioned that his partner Rachel Owens is not ready to check out the Rainbow album (during release period) because he is apparently 'neurotic' during his album finishing. Musicians are known to be difficult at times of stress, like any normal human.<br /> <br /> --Slip into the groove (making his music) & cut me off ( I will cut myself off from everything--you know me better..when i''m in that phase..this is what I do.)<br /> <br /> Another way to say this is that he was saying situations get strained during that time..all artists are misunderstood --even by their lovers and family and so Rachel was actually not ready to listen to his own album even though she would have instant access---why?<br /> Because it is more than likely she would need to feel where she has let go of the past before trying to listen to an album that will remind her of those difficult times.<br /> <br /> Too reaching? Don't think so ;) not if you've ever dealt with women -they are strange creatures !<br /> <br /> <br /> There's an empty space inside my heart<br /> Where the weeds take root<br /> And now I'll set you free<br /> I'll set you free<br /> <br /> ----Here is where things get interesting and twisted :)<br /> <br /> An empty space inside my heart but I'm setting you free?<br /> To me it means the protagonist is declaring that the space once occupied by you my lover is now empty and overgrown with weeds.<br /> When does this happen? <br /> When the garden is not tended to...as in I have not loved you for a while and my heart is empty, and overgrown with weeds.<br /> <br /> So I'll set you free could be in terms of uprooting all these weeds that represent you to clear you from my heart in a megalomaniac type behavior<br /> <br /> Or it could be a simple resignation..mutual defeat accepted---<br /> My heart is empty and overrun with weeds so I'm letting the idea of you go as we both know this love is no longer real.<br /> <br /> There's an empty space inside my heart<br /> Where the weeds take root<br /> So now I'll set you free<br /> I'll set you free<br /> <br /> Slowly we unfurl<br /> As lotus flowers<br /> 'Cos all I want is the moon upon a stick<br /> Just to see what if<br /> Just to see what is<br /> I can't kick your habit<br /> Just to feel your fast ballooning head<br /> Listen to your heart<br /> <br /> ---This is the most complex but also the most obvious parts of the lyrics to me that got me thinking about these ideas.<br /> <br /> Slowly we unfurl as lotus flowers -- <br /> This is an intimate thought to himself or maybe he is even sharing it with his lost lover as a mutual sense of loss.<br /> That as lovers we were once innocent beginning this relationship & started with the best of intentions, the best of loves..<br /> <br /> Cause All I want is the moon on a stick--<br /> here the progression of starting as pure lotus flowers (purity reference) is shown to take a narcissistic turn for the worst..soon our well compromised and above reproach holiest love sours, it is taken for granted, worn out..whatever..and then it's about "here's what I want"--ie "all I want to make things work is the Moon upon a stick." This is an unrealistic request to make but really parallels where relationships sometimes end up unfortunately ...a non negotiable power struggle between one weaker and one stronger person..one who perhaps demands too much from the weaker partner..<br /> <br /> Just to see what if ..<br /> Just to see what is.. ----<br /> <br /> These verses support the idea of someone who is just abusing the power of their relationship, because as mentioned earlier, they have lost any sense of love they once had and in true borderline/narcisssitic fashion are exploiting their power just to see how far they can push it..<br /> <br /> this serves as a reminder to them of their power and holds no other real utility really<br /> <br /> -ie they aren't really out to hurt the partner just more interested in a selfish way to see how far they can really go in proving to themselves how powerful they are..<br /> <br /> I can't kick your habit--- just to feel your fast ballooning head listen to your heart....<br /> This is a really interesting set of verses..with a possible dual interpretation:<br /> <br /> <br /> 1) The protagonist is struggling to be nice but is still true to his bitter self and so offers a sort of tough love by saying,, hey..I know I'm pushing my limits by asking for the Moon on a stick, I know ..but I'm doing it just to see how far I can go, I really can't kick your habit to need a perfect relationship however broken that vision really is-- so when I go for broke pushing this relationship, part of the drive to do this is to see just how messed up your ideals are..<br /> <br /> As a very cruel way of caring perhaps, this is the only way he can do so by throwing it in her face how reckless he can be in light of her weakness to want a perfect world.<br /> <br /> Listen to your heart is a last attempt to be helpful..listen to your inner voices telling you this isnt right..I can't help you as I am whoI am so please help yourself.<br /> <br /> or<br /> <br /> 2) The protagonist is saying I can't kick your habit of needing things to be right when they aren't..so instead I'd rather see just how your fast ballooning head (unrealistic imaginations) listens to your heart (as you follow blindly by emotions). <br /> <br /> <br /> We will shake and we'll be quiet as mice<br /> And while the cat is away<br /> Do what we want<br /> Do what we want<br /> <br /> --Here, is likely the most abstract lyrical explanation from my end as it is hard to make it work with the rest<br /> <br /> We will shake and we'll be quiet as mice, and while the cat is away do what we want, do what we want<br /> <br /> --Here he is at a part of the relationship where he is saying to his partner..look we should enjoy this moment while you and I know I'm in a good mood...and the ugly side of me is not here, ie the cat.<br /> When in fact I am in a happy place, let's just keep things this way (quiet as mice) and not raise issues..so you & I can be happy do what we want.<br /> It feels like an implied idea that this is a temporary indulgence we are both taking in knowing this will not be forever.<br /> In a relationship breaking up there are lots of stops & gos before the end..maybe this is a moment to try and salvage whatever good was present even if both parties know it is not forever, hence the cat will return.<br /> <br /> <br /> There's an empty space inside my heart<br /> Where the weeds take root<br /> So now I'll set you free<br /> I'll set you free<br /> <br /> 'Cos all I want is the moon upon a stick<br /> Just to see what if<br /> Just to see what is<br /> The bird lights float into my room<br /> <br /> Bird lights float into my room--? what could this mean...another open verse. to be really abstract, the bird lights, could signify bright doves of peace or perhaps the angels taking away his broke soul as he finally resigns to the end of this love and finds inner peace in the finality of it..regardless I feel instead of the words but how he says it means more..as if to indicate the above idea.<br /> <br /> Also, another crazy explanation could be bird lights float into my room as in a Phoenix rising from the flames-here he is sharing the experience of having really lost someone you truly love and after all the fights together and even dealing with the personal aspects of crying or missing the past, you ultimately do realize at some point that you are still alive---barely...but you are alive..you are breathing and that gives you hope to get up and face a new day....<br /> <br /> <br /> Slowly we unfurl<br /> As lotus flowers<br /> 'Cos all I want is the moon upon a stick<br /> I dance around the pit<br /> The darkness is beneath<br /> I can't kick your habit<br /> Just to feel your fast ballooning head<br /> Listen to your heart <br /> <br /> <br /> I dance around the pit..the darkness is beneath..I know who I am and perhaps in a weird way, I am taking ownership of being the bad guy in this broken relationship and maybe even a sense of joy as I peer into the darkness within me..dance around the pit.<br /> <br /> <br /> Well not bad for a first attempt I hope..would like to hear people's views on it :)<br /> <br /> All this effort is a small tribute to Thom's musical & lyrical genius on this song ;)<br /> Cheers!

agreed

Interesting thanks for sharing. <br /> <br /> I think in terms of the song, the subject is listening to heart desires which in a sensible frame of mind might be seen as undesired. So perhaps the song is about that state of disconcern over the outside consciousness and what is sensible.

Second "Just to feel your fast ballooning head":<br /> <br /> Feed, not feel<br /> <br /> Thoughts?

The second one is definitely "just to FEED your fast ballooning head." The rest sounds right to me.

I agree, it is feed. You should change that, and then post your interpretation as a new song on here called Lotus Flower (The King Of Limbs Version) or something of the sort. I'm not sure that whoever posted this is going to come back and change it, as it's been nearly two years.

I thought it was "fill your fast ballooning head" but this version def seems the rightest.

Also, I think it's "shrink" every time. Not "shake." Shrink seems to make more sense -shrink into your pocket, shrink and disappear, shrink and be quiet as mice.

it sounded like:<br /> <br /> I will shape myself into your pocket<br /> Invisible<br /> Do what you want<br /> Do what you want<br /> <br /> I will shrink and I will disappear<br /> I will slip into the groove and cut me off<br /> And cut me off<br /> <br /> (and) <br /> <br /> We will shrink and we'll be quiet as mice<br /> And while the cat is away<br /> Do what we want<br /> Do what we want<br />

You sir, are a genius. Exactly what I thought the meaning of this song would be. Maybe because I'm going through the same phase ;). This can be someone's absolute favorite song who feels the same way as explained above. Perfect!

You sir, are a genius. Exactly what I thought the meaning of this song would be. Maybe because I'm going through the same phase ;). This can be someone's absolute favorite song who feels the same way as explained above. Perfect! Though many Radiohead songs act like some sort of drugs and make me high but this one hits me hardest.