Atoms For Peace

Album: The Eraser (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song title is both the name of a speech given by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 and the motto of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
  • The song opens with the lines "No more going to the dark side with your flying saucer eyes. No more falling down a wormhole that I have to pull you out." According to The Observer newspaper, they refer to "something of an admonition" from Yorke's wife Rachel to him to lighten up.
  • In 2009 Yorke gathered a band of musician friends together to see if The Eraser could be played live. They toured briefly, initially billed warily as "??????", before being named "Atoms for Peace" after this song.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.