Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
Open your mouth wide
The universal sigh
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive
So I lose and start over
Don't blow your mind with why
I'm moving out of orbit
Turning in somersaults
(Turning in somersaults)
I dive into those eyes
(I dive into those eyes)
Jellyfish swim by
The universal sigh
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive
So I lose and start over
Don't blow your mind with why
I'm moving out of orbit
Turning in somersaults
(Turning in somersaults)
I dive into those eyes
(I dive into those eyes)
Jellyfish swim by
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
The coming of existence, and consequently the start of a journey and quest like life.
I think this song alludes to the never-ending series of births, of blooming flowers, of people becoming more and more conscious of this world. It has a sense of being (re)born, an awakening feeling.
No wonder they use it to start their concerts so often, and start their album.
Anyways here my interpretation:
(Warning: I talk very much in imagery.)
Do note: This song starts of surprisingly high paced, with some high notes, very much "awake", and slightly chaotic. I see it as a slowly blooming flower in a busy street, people, cars, the world passing by in flashes.
Open your mouth wide
The universal sigh
//I find this part to call upon me multiple imageries on different occasions.
Mostly, I see it as if the singer is like feeding a child.
"Open your mouth wide, let me feed you, let me teach you."
The universal sigh, an almost hopeless, pessimistic sigh: "Is this going to change everything? Will this child aid this world? Will this generation finally fix the shit we're in?"
Sometimes, I just think he's calling for us to realise, to relate to his sense of hopelessness and desperation. To universally sigh together, realise, accept, so we can all achieve the determination to fix this world.
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive
//Despite the sense of disappointment and hopelessness, impending despreation, this blooming is akin to hope. It's what keeps him hopeful, alive. Again, two things which are so closely intertwined.
Because, as long as people will still grow into flowers, into something unique and special, as something more than just the common weed, we still have hope. Without hope, one is dead. Until one has given up, he's still alive, able to influence this world.
So why does it still hurt? (This is album version lyrics)
Don't blow your mind with why
//It still hurts because every time someone goes 'bad', a person turns out wrong, a flower grown crooked, it's a hope, a dream shattered. So every new birth, every new hope, is regarded as less hopeful, because when you look at whats happening, it's all going down the drain.
Because if you compare the good and bad, it doesnt look good.
It's going in a bad direction.
Why?
You don't want to know. It'll only blow your mind. It's a warning. Just try to do your best in repairing the damages.
A feeling of desperation.
I'm moving out of orbit
Turning in somersaults
(Turning in somersaults)
I dive into those eyes
(I dive into those eyes)
Jellyfish swim by
//Radiohead has a very consistent tendency to perceive the world as an ocean. Humans as fish in the sea. (Weird fishes/Daily Mail and more. Farfetched, but might be inspired by DH lawrence's little fish)
As for the orbit, it's breaking out of habits, going into a change. Turning in somersaults indicating that this is done extravagantly, determined, maybe with extreme measures.
I dive in those eyes, "Those eyes" probably refers to all those fish, all those people gazing at him, helpless, in need, unguided. Problems, affairs that need attendance. He turns in somersaults to help, because the world needs it.
Jellyfish swim by. Apathic. Pointless Jellyfish, with their apathetic, pointless life, swim by, while he rushes past. A stark contrast of the blind and apathetic, and the desperate, the ones who see the world's needs.
There. My 2 cents. Probably a very personal one, but hope it may be of help in some way :)
Cheers,
Jin
(Do note: written very tiredly. Feedback welcome!)
Open your mouths wide
The universal sigh
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive
So why does this still hurt?
Don't blow your mind with why
I'm moving out of orbit
Turning in somersaults
(Turning in somersaults)
A giant turtles eyes
(A giant turtles eyes)
Jellyfish swim by
(jelly fish swim by)
Now as far as interpretation goes....
although interpretation is always in the mind of the beholder, I believe You cannot interpret any radiohead song based completely on lyrics without considering what is happening sonically. For example, The lyrical visuals of seeing jelly fish go by and giant turtles staring at you is not unlike Weird fishes with the visual imagery of being in an ocean, but unlike weird fishes It is not completely watery sonically. Most notable in the nonwatery aspect is that reoccurring scurrying rythym that sounds like rodents or some small animals rustling around in a forest or garden. (or maybe even those parasites that get into its hosts head and the host can actually hear it scurrying!) To me this song is mostly about life and cycles. It might be saying that we have a perspective of pain and experience that is hard not to take personally, but it advises not to spend too much time wondering why...you should simply live.
Open your mouth wide ppl are gonna give their feedback w/o first letting the album sink in
The universal sigh and everyone will dislike it (at first)
And while the ocean blooms the ocean could represent their soul, thats what moves them, keeps It's what keeps me alive them going
So why does it still hurt? "it" being the negative feedback, they probably remember the kind of Don't blow your mind with why shit ppl talked when they released Kid A
I'm moving out of orbit fuck it, we're gonna play the music we want anyway
Turning in somersaults happy they went for it, perhaps also a reference to how the album
(Turning in somersaults) features a more "end over end" type of rhythm
Giant turtle's eyes inside their soul, this is now where they reside
(giant turtle's eyes)
Jellyfish swim by
but, idk. i think radiohead enjoys watching its fans fight over meanings and conspiracies...
Open your mouth wide
(ppl are gonna give their feedback w/o first letting the album sink in)
The universal sigh
(and everyone will dislike it (at first))
And while the ocean blooms
It's what keeps me alive
(the ocean could represent their soul, thats what moves them, keeps them going)
So why does it still hurt?
("it" being the negative feedback, they probably remember the kind of shit ppl talked when they released Kid A)
Don't blow your mind with why
I'm moving out of orbit
(fuck it, we're gonna play the music we want anyway)
Turning in somersaults
(satisfied they went for it, perhaps also a reference to how the album features a more "end over end" type of rhythm)
Giant turtle's eyes
Jellyfish swim by
(inside their soul, this is now where they reside)
but, idk. i think radiohead enjoys watching its fans fight over meanings and conspiracies...