Genius | Song Lyrics & Knowledge

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.

A melancholy Zoe track over an instrumental from Kid Cudi’s Demo Tapes.

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

report abuse

Plowmen Robert Frost – Plowmen

Song Bio 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

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

Frost takes shots at plowing snow, providing an excellent example of his frequent sarcasm.

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

report abuse

High and Dry Radiohead – High and Dry

Song Bio 3 Contributors ?

What is this?

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

The second single from Radiohead’s second album, The Bends. “High and Dry” was released on a double A-side with the album’s opening track, “Planet Telex.”

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

report abuse

198

7 years

I think that this song is about something like selling your soul. The narrator is talking about this person who has compromised his integrity for success. It talks about how you destroy your foundation when you sellout like this and that the people you have done this to impress will end up hating you if you fall. You will have nothing to support you when you fall and everyone will be against you.
Anyway, that’s what it means to me but it could also be about a relationship I guess.

Upvote +91 Downvote

105

6 years

please add some more

Upvote +4 Downvote

2,362

3 years

The song bio should have more of a description of the song rather than a couple of facts.

Upvote +15 Downvote

Show 2 more suggestions

No Surprises Radiohead – No Surprises

Song Bio 4 Contributors ?

What is this?

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

“No Surprises” is the fourth and final single from Radiohead’s third album, OK Computer. It was the first song to be recorded for the album, and the band actually stuck with the original recording: Singer Thom Yorke is quoted as saying that

“We did endless versions afterwards […] and they were all just covers of the first version. So we gave up and went back to [the original].”

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

report abuse

346

4 years

This song is good.

Upvote +174 Downvote

Nathan Lewis

4 years

It’s the third of four singles. This, Paranoid Android, Karma Police and Lucky were singles.

Upvote +31 Downvote

3 years

The part “No alarm and no surprises” means my life is so boring that not even a thief break into my house (no alarm) and no surprises means there is no one in my life to suprise me

Upvote +22 Downvote

117

2 years

I wish there was more on the meaning here!! No issue tho-

Upvote +15 Downvote

205

2 years

isn’t this supposed to be the meaning of the song

Upvote +22 Downvote

Show 4 more suggestions

Did the cat get your tongue? Radiohead – 15 Step

Genius Annotation 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

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

An old English idiom, “did the cat get your tongue?” is questioning a person, “why are you not talking?”

The origin of this phrase is unsure, but Yahoo! has a theory that it originates from a form of punishment in the Middle East in which caught liars had their tongues torn out and fed to cats, the cat getting the tongue and rendering the liar mute.

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

report abuse

anonymous

1 year

“To give one’s tongue to the cat” is also a French saying that means “giving up”. The cat taking it from you might imlpy being forced to give up by external circumstances.

Upvote +2 Downvote

Show all improvement suggestions

Et cetera, et cetera Radiohead – 15 Step

Genius Annotation 3 Contributors ?

What is this?

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

A Latin phrase meaning “and other things”/“and so forth,” this line goes along with the metaphor found in the song’s repetition, “et cetera” typically implying the continuation of a list of things – which this song certainly includes.

“Et cetera” also functions ironically, hinting at the lack of repetition in that the simple “etc.” covers for the completion of a lyric used earlier in the song.

When used along with the preceding clichéd phrases it may show how disillusioned he has become with the relationship. He is asking these questions with no feeling or real desire to know the answer.

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

report abuse

In a couple of years, tides have turned from boos to cheers
And in spite of the weather, we can learn to make it together MGMT – The Youth

Genius Annotation 3 Contributors ?

What is this?

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

In a small period of time, the tides have turned – meaning the conditions have been reversed – from dislike to admiration (“boos to cheers”).

Regardless of the changing conditions, if the youth come together, they will survive, and the stars will rise again.

It’s possible that “boos” is deliberately used as a homophone for “booze”, especially given that when you raise a glass, you often accompany it with “cheers.” If so, maybe this could highlight the temporary nature of youth and how we go from binging with friends to a more formal, adult setting, where we might raise a glass to somebody/something.

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

report abuse

WanderingCapybara

4 years

Yeah, I always thought it was booze, haha

Upvote +2 Downvote

Show all improvement suggestions

The youth are starting to change
Are you starting to change? Are you?
Together, together, together
Together, together, together, together
The youth are starting to change
Are you starting to change? Are you?
Together, together, together
Together, together, together, together MGMT – The Youth

Genius Annotation 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

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

MGMT preaching to their target audience – as per the song title, the “Youth.” MGMT’s topic youth is starting to change and come together.

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

report abuse

597

5 years

“Are you together?” is threatening way to ask if your child is dating someone; most parents fear seeing their kids foray into romance.
Meanwhile, “Are you together?” could also be asking about the collectivity of a generation. For example, in the 90s, there was an upsurge of punk rock; parents may have worried if their children would be “together” with the rest of their generation to engage in rebellious trends and lifestyles.

Upvote +2 Downvote

2,582

6 years

“Are you” is also a play on words that sounds like “Our youth”. Which ties to the name of the song and could have a double entendre meaning.
The first would be that “our youth” means the generation coming after us, all the rebellious children that do things their own way just like we once did, are now growing up and demonstrating that the status quo can be changed.
The second meaning would be that Andrew is chanting “our youth” in a self reflective way saying that our childhood and all our immature thoughts and emotions are now changing as we are transitioning into adulthood. This gives the song a whole new meaning and perspective and it makes you feel a bit more nostalgic realizing that times are really changing.

Upvote +14 Downvote

Show all improvement suggestions

The Youth MGMT – The Youth

Song Bio 1 Contributor ?

What is this?

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

MGMT’s “Youth” is a song about change, love, and youthful rebellion. It’s quite a part of the “modern hippie” status quo, but you can’t hate on another one of MGMT’s great songs.

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

report abuse

the stars will rise again MGMT – The Youth

Genius Annotation 2 Contributors ?

What is this?

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

Basically, “don’t worry, the stars will still show in the sky.” Or, “everything will be all right.”

There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

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

report abuse

Marked this as missing something ?

5 years

This line is also about the cyclical nature of generations.

With every teenage generation, new swoonworthy celebrities and boy bands form; teenagers fall in love; and then these “stars” fade into the collective nostalgia of a generation.
When those teenagers become adults and have children, they begin to fear their children growing up and falling in love with those fictional celebrity personas.
But these parents must let it go, and remember their own celebrity loves. Heartthrobs have existed for over 70 years; it is now part of the generational cycle. The stars will rise and fall with each generation; it is as common as the night.

Upvote +1 Downvote