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

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.