Talk Show Host

Album: Street Spirit single (1995)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This has never been released on any official Radiohead album. It was released as a B-side to the single "Street Spirit (Fade Out)," the last track of their 1995 album The Bends. It also appears on the Australian compilation CD: Triple J's "J Files Presents The Greatest B-Sides of All Time".
  • This figured prominently in a key scene of Baz Luhrman's 1996 film William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet. Another Radiohead song, "Exit Music (for a Film)" plays over the closing credits of the same movie. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tony - Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia, for above 2

Comments: 15

  • Ass from Ass Citythey predicted the jonkler movie
  • Balls from Balls Citythey predicted the joker movie
  • Katya from VancouverThe song makes a lot more sense if you listen to it in the context of the film Romeo+ Juliet, the 1996 version that it features prominently in. Great song and the film adds context to the lyrics.
  • Rhs from MontrealI wonder why it’s called “Talk Show Host”
  • Paul from Palm CityNot sure what came first but Talk Show host drum beat sounds similar to that in Amon Tobins “The Killers Vanilla”.
  • AnonymousThe 80’s movie Wisdom has an epic climax scene with a gun and sandwiches and those lyrics seemed to be a reference to that, to me anyway.
  • Resolve from Arizona, UsaThe lyric "with a gun and a packet of sandwiches" refers to a kind of common term "pack a f--king lunch" I.e. "Oh, you want to mess with Leroy Brown, you better pack a f--king lunch" meaning your gonna be there awhile...:if you succeed at all, that's what I've always thought?
  • Brad from Kansas City, KsThe end of this song when Thom York says I'm ready, he is saying he is ready to die which is what this song seems to be about
  • Kivi from Yekaterinburg, -2Alex: I think he needs a pack of sandwhiches to eat them while he's waiting for the enemy to come because he's ready to wait for him as long as it takes.
  • Ashley from San Antonio, TxI always thought this was about being an outcast, "I want to be someone else or I'll explode", but then he talks like he's trying to provoke someone. Although if he's an outcast maybe a bully, but then he says he'll be waiting with a gun and a pack of sandwiches? Who knows maybe he got all Edward Norton in "Fight Club" and got some courage.
  • Alex from Oconomowoc, WiMy only question is why he would be waiting "with a gun and a pack of sandwichs". Is he gonna shoot him then eat lunch with his corpse.
  • Wayne from Kl, MalaysiaAmazing that Radiohead never released this on an official album. It's an amazing song, probably one of their best.
  • Max from Sydney, Australiathis is quite a funny song actully
  • Mari from TÃ?nsberg, Norway(Listen to the text, and you'll know..)
  • Moocakes from San Gabriel, Cadude.....wot's this song about!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."