Released: 2007
Radiohead’s ‘Weird Fishes / Arpeggi’ is a deep dive into the realm of self-discovery and existentialism. It’s a haunting journey that grapples with the desire to escape the mundane and chase the unknown, even if it leads to the edge of the world or the bottom of the sea.
In the opening lines, ‘In the deepest ocean, The bottom of the sea, Your eyes, They turn me’, the song sets a tone of mystery and intrigue. The ‘deepest ocean’ and ‘bottom of the sea’ symbolize the depth of the unknown, while ‘your eyes’ could be a metaphor for a guiding force or a person that leads the singer to explore these depths.
‘Why should I stay here? Why should I stay?’ is a powerful refrain that encapsulates the singer’s restlessness and yearning for change. It’s a universal question that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a rut or dissatisfied with their current circumstances.
‘I’d be crazy not to follow, Follow where you lead’ shows the singer’s willingness to embrace the unknown. It’s a bold statement of intent, signaling a readiness to leave behind the familiar and venture into uncharted territory.
‘Turn me into phantoms, I follow to the edge, Of the earth, And fall off’ is a vivid depiction of the singer’s journey. ‘Phantoms’ could represent the singer’s transformation as he delves deeper into the unknown, while ‘the edge of the earth’ signifies the extreme lengths he’s willing to go to in his quest for self-discovery.
‘Yeah, everybody leaves, If they get the chance, And this… is my chance’ is a powerful declaration of the singer’s determination to seize the opportunity to break free. It’s a sentiment that speaks to the universal human desire for freedom and self-determination.
‘I get eaten by the worms, And weird fishes, Picked over by the worms, And weird fishes’ might sound grim, but it’s actually a metaphor for the process of transformation and rebirth. Just as a body decomposes and is consumed by worms and fishes, the singer is metaphorically ‘eaten’ and ‘picked over’ as he undergoes a profound personal transformation.
‘Yeah I, I’ll hit the bottom, Hit the bottom and escape, Escape’ is a statement of resilience and determination. Even when he hits rock bottom, the singer is resolved to escape and rise again. It’s a powerful message of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.
