GENIUS
Sign Up
Hey, ho, let's go
Hey, ho, let's go
Hey, ho, let's go
Hey, ho, let's go Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop
Genius Annotation 3 Contributors ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

According to Tommy Ramone, this iconic chant was inspired by a Rolling Stones version of Rufus Thomas' “Walking the Dog,” which changed Thomas' original “High, low, tipsy toe” line to “High hose, tippy toes.”

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +45 Downvote
Copy Embed
32a868ae33be26e84835d5bf5347e7bf

13,363

3 years

And I think Aerosmith’s version says, “High, low, mistletoe.”

Upvote +1 Downvote
Acdbb21d1fad7dbb364033bef5ce355a

101

3 years

This could also reminisce of an army chant before going to battle to amp up the soldiers

Upvote +6 Downvote
Show all improvement suggestions
The Bends Radiohead – The Bends
Song Bio 4 Contributors ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

In scientific terms, the bends, also known as decompression sickness, occurs when dissolved gas comes out of solution forming bubbles in the blood. This condition demonstrates Henry’s Law which states that more gas will be dissolved in a liquid when the gas is pressurized. More commonly found in deep water divers that ascend too quickly, the bends can occur at other times during rapid pressure changes.

This track was initially introduced as being about “knowing who your real friends are and when they’re going to come to your gigs.” Thom soon simplified this to “knowing who your friends are.” The song reflects Radiohead’s sense of humour; it contains many ridiculous lines about the CIA and the Marines.

Of the opening, Thom says:

The sound at the beginning comes from this caterwauling mayhem outside this hotel in the States. There was this guy training these eight-year-old kids, who were parading up and down with all these differents instruments. The guy had this little microphone on his sweater and was going: ‘Yeah, keep it up, keep it up.’ So I ran out and taped it.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +103 Downvote
Copy Embed
ash
Marked this as missing something?
2 years

I am not straying from my strong belief that the ‘bends’ Thom refers to in the song are directly referencing the slang term for a homosexual. In the song he expresses his true belief on the ‘sins of homosexuality’ and how he cannot trust anyone fearing that they may be gay. In the line ‘my baby’s got the bends, oh no’, Thom tells the listener that his offspring is a member of the LGBTQ community and his displeasure at this turn of events by his use of the common phrase “oh no”. Thom even goes as far as to say he wishes that homosexuality was outlawed as it was in the past, stating “I wish it was the 60s, I wish I could be happy”. Through this, Thom expresses his feelings that his only true course to happiness is through the direct punishment of gays for their sexuality. “Where do we go from here?”, the first and possibly most moving line of the whole song. Thom expresses his and the band’s feelings that in a society where ‘homosexuals and outlaws roam the streets freely not receiving the harsh punishment they deserve’ where do we go to recover from this ‘fall of society’. A moving and revealing song that uncovers Thom Yorke’s true political beliefs and today remains a notable piece of work in Radiohead’s discography.

Upvote -28 Downvote
31b98592dcc0fb7462c80be2148727ed

110

1 year

I hope the person who said this song is about homophobia is joking.

Upvote +9 Downvote
Show 1 more suggestion
Alone on an aeroplane
Falling asleep against the windowpane
My blood'll thicken Radiohead – The Bends
Genius Annotation 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

This line is about the exhaustive nature of touring. For a two hours a night it’s standing in front of a screaming crowd of tens of thousands of fans, playing rock music, but the rest of the time it’s just sitting on tour buses or in airports, or waiting for sound checks, etc.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +65 Downvote
Copy Embed
Wombles bleed
Truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you, my love The Libertines – Time for Heroes
Genius Annotation 2 Contributors ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

The generally feel of the song is painting the picture a poor town in mire. However, instead of looking for the hopelessness of the situation he elevates this through a poetic filter. Essentially it is a love song to his `cherished' one who faces and repels the dire situation with him.

From a post by Peter (heavyhorse) : “The ‘wombles’ were a revolutionary sect from the era of the Mayday riots in the year 2000. They were rioters who all dressed up like wombles from the t.v series, including tinfoil shields and wobbly truncheons, mimicking the riot police. There were about 12 of them, but they had many enthusiastic disciples.”

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +9 Downvote
Copy Embed
Andrew
8 years

The WOMBLES (White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles) are a loosely aligned anarchist and anti-capitalist group based in London. They gained prominence in the early 2000s for wearing white overalls with padding and helmets at protests, mimicking the Italian group Tute Bianche.

Upvote +4 Downvote
WillemPie
10 years

Womble are also a name for a London based group of anarchists.

Upvote +4 Downvote
Show all improvement suggestions
So the stale chips are up and the hope stakes are down
It's all these ignorant faces that bring this town down The Libertines – Time for Heroes
Genius Annotation 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Doherty here transfers the problems with classism in England to the others who are ignorant of it, namely those who don’t see their place in it.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +4 Downvote
Copy Embed
Time for Heroes The Libertines – Time for Heroes
Song Bio 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

“Time for Heroes” is a song by English rock band The Libertines, and is featured on their debut album, Up the Bracket. It was released 13 January 2003 as the third single from that album, placing at #20 in the UK Singles Chart (see 2003 in British music). Based on singer/guitarist Pete Doherty’s experiences and police brutality at the London May Day Riots of 2001.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +9 Downvote
Copy Embed
It was a few or more distressing sights than that
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap
And we'll die in the class we were born
Well, that's a class of our own, my love
A class of our own, my love The Libertines – Time for Heroes
Genius Annotation 4 Contributors ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

This verse can be seen as a reflection on British culture. The May Day Riots in 2000 were brought about by anti-capitalist protests; the USA is seen as the capitalist powerhouse of the world and baseball is a traditionally American sport, so for a working-class Englishman, to see someone wearing something such as a baseball cap is a disheartening fact and acts as a metaphor for the degradation of British culture and the inevitable rise of the capitalist machine.

In a sudden moment of realisation that the capitalist system has spread into all aspects of his life. He comes to terms with the fact that he may be stuck in the working-class for the rest of his life but doesn’t see this as something to be ashamed of as he knows that he and his love interest have stayed true to themselves and fought for what they believed in.

In a nutshell, it is about the hopelessness of the English society: the local English culture being replaced by American culture, and the society lacks mobility (people cannot improve their living standard anyhow).

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote -10 Downvote
Copy Embed
Marked this as missing something?
3 months

I think the correct lyrics are

There are fewer more distressing sights than that
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap

that makes more sense in the context

Upvote +1 Downvote
Marked this as missing something?
5 years

“We’ll die in the class we were born/well that’s a class of our own, my love” refers to the idea that you shouldn’t allow class to define you, least of all the class that you were born into.

Upvote +3 Downvote
F4dbcbaf7c8d414b4f429a613aeffdb2

1,432

7 years

The first two lines of this annotation should be separated from the rest. They are about cultural imperialism – the baseball cap being a sign of American(ised) culture taking over English youth.

Upvote +5 Downvote
Default_avatar_100

15

8 years

I think this is actually more to do with them being The Libertines and sticking to their albion ways and not conforming to be like The Stokes. Hence ‘an Englishman in a baseball cap’.

Upvote +6 Downvote
Show all improvement suggestions
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot? The Libertines – Time for Heroes
Genius Annotation 2 Contributors ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

The “stylish kids in the riot” are the upper class young scallywags who joined in the May Day Riots in 2001.
In addition to that, Peter has stated in an old interview that, back in the day, he once walked past a police officer with a plastic riot shield. When he caught his reflection in the shield, he didn’t like what he saw so he started fixing his hair. The officer thought he was making fun of him and gave him a beating.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +14 Downvote
Copy Embed
For No One The Beatles – For No One
Song Bio 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

“For No One” is a song written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon–McCartney) that originally appeared on The Beatles' seventh album, Revolver. A baroque pop song about the end of a relationship, it was one of McCartney’s most mature and poignant works upon its release. Mostly performed by the composer, the track is distinguished by its French horn solo, performed by Alan Civil and used as an obbligato in the final verse.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +110 Downvote
Copy Embed
Martin
6 years

I’ve always thought this song is about Jane Asher, his girlfriend at that time.

Upvote +14 Downvote
Bdc0e18dd0446ce35dce3a8ac9988727

142

2 years

Many of Paul’s lyrics in his time with Jane reflect what difficult relationship it was, as on “What You’re Doing”, “You Won’t See Me”, “Yesterday” and many others.
He was a man from the North of England, working class, very traditional when it came to relationships; Jane was a rich, well educated, independent woman born in London. Very different mindsets so, naturally, Paul was very jealous of her, and he put his woes in his lyrics.

Upvote +7 Downvote
Show 1 more suggestion
Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream
It is not dying, it is not dying The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows
Genius Annotation 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Lennon was looking for a copy of The Portable Nietzsche — and Lennon had found a copy of The Psychedelic Experience that contained the lines: “When in doubt, relax, turn off your mind, float downstream”.

Lennon bought the book, went home, took LSD, and followed the instructions exactly as stated in the book. The book held that the “ego death” experienced under the influence of LSD and other psychedelic drugs is essentially similar to the dying process and requires similar guidance.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

report abuse
Upvote +88 Downvote
Copy Embed
B5ba9304fc673b6b6204c61855f83831

31,872

1 year

This is also referenced near the beginning of the earlier track on the album I’m Only Sleeping:
When I’m in the middle of a dream, stay in bed float upstream.

Upvote +0 Downvote
9367254cfbf6e9901ad4135d53620a30

104

2 years

Harry is wrong lol

Upvote +0 Downvote
Rob Dornbush
5 years

aka Rebirth ceremony involves pasing through the feared gateway of death, and beyond along the lines of a native american ritual or 2

Upvote +0 Downvote
Marked this as missing something?
5 years

“Ego deathing” is not like the dying process at all and it is actually the opposite. In Tomorrow Never Knows, The Beatles even say that “It is not dying.”

Upvote +15 Downvote
Show all improvement suggestions