Like Spinning Plates

Album: Amnesiac (2001)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This has the melody of another, unreleased Radiohead song called "I Will" run in reverse.
  • Thom Yorke sang this backwards because he thought it sounded too uncomfortable the regular way. His tracks were then reversed and added on, resulting in the lyrics sung backward, then forward.
  • The album was recorded at the same time as Kid A, but released shortly after.
  • "Cloudcuckooland" is a reference to the ancient Greek comedy/satire The Birds by Aristophanes. It is a city built by birds to escape the frantic aspects of normal human civilization (in the case of the play, Athens).

Comments: 6

  • Lauren from Chicago, IlLive in concert, before Thom Yorke starts to play he says: "This is dedicated to our glorious leaders, or alteast some of them who saw fit to take us to a war that nobody wanted, kill thousands of... about tens of thousands of innocent people. And they shall go to their grave with it on their conscience. And I hope that's ok with them. Anyway..."

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGWSy1YnhNI&feature=related
  • Max from Sydney, Australiaspinning plates do end( falling off etc) but when it falls off, you get angry and try again and again and...again...and ur doing it without thinking.and you trying will never end..thats my thought
  • Leo from Grimsby, CaDispite having an insanely similar feel to "I will", it manages to still be a polar opposite in sound..
    The warped reversed sound giving an almost "trapped" feel to the track.. Almost sort of subliminal.
  • Bryan from Here, Scthis song is beautiful and i love it.
  • Colin from Silver Spring, MdAbout how some seems as though it will never end, and is effecting you in a negative way (spinning plates?)
  • Shan from Fairyland, InThis is an awesome song...very well done.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.