Radiohead

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
A green plastic watering can
For a fake Chinese rubber plant
In a fake plastic earth
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plants
To get rid of itself

[Chorus]
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out

[Verse 2]
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins

[Chorus]
And it wears him out
It wears him out
It wears him out
It wears
[Verse 3]
She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run

[Chorus]
And it wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out

[Outro]
And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time
All the time

Fake Plastic Trees is one of Radiohead's most iconic songs. It is a fine example of the band's "post-grunge" and "pre-electronic" phase on their album, The Bends. The lyrics are a statement against consumerism and the over-consuming culture of the modern era. The music video, directed by Jake Scott, showcases a mesmerizing Thom Yorke singing while riding in a shopping cart through a supermarket filled with products that are distinguishable only by their colors.

About Fake Plastic Trees

Radiohead's Fake Plastic Trees was released in 1995 and gained widespread recognition and critical acclaim. The song's lyrics paint a picture of our modern society, where people are consumed by the idea of consuming. It is a strong message against the empty nature of consumerism and the superficial nature of material possessions.

The song begins with a slow and soothing melody, with Thom Yorke's delicate voice. The opening verse describes a town lined with plastic trees, highlighting the artificial nature of our society. The song's contrast between the natural and the artificial is a recurring theme, with lyrics such as "She looks like the real thing, she tastes like the real thing, my fake plastic love." This line is a commentary on how personal relationships can also be reduced to superficial and meaningless affairs in a culture that values appearance over substance.

The chorus then takes a turn, with Yorke's voice escalating in a powerful and emotional tone while singing "It wears her out, it wears her out, it wears her out." The line is a reflection on the destructive nature of consumerism and material obsession, which can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion in attempting to maintain an image that is not sustainable.

During the recording of the song, the band watched Jeff Buckley’s concert in Highbury, London. They were so moved by Buckley's performance that Thom Yorke sang the song while kneeling and crying. You can hear the emotion in Yorke's voice during the song's climax, where his singing turns to screaming, and the music becomes increasingly loud and dissonant.

The song's music video directed by Jake Scott is a perfect visual representation of the song's message. The video shows Yorke in a shopping cart, and he rides through a supermarket where everything is colored only in white, red, blue, and yellow. The colors are not on the product packaging, but the products themselves. This depiction of a world where we reduce products to their aesthetic colors, rather than their usage or contents, is a powerful and pertinent social critique that remains valid today.

The significance of Fake Plastic Trees

Fake Plastic Trees marks the transition of Radiohead from the previous album, Pablo Honey, which was more of a traditional rock album, to a more experimental and progressive sound. This album, The Bends, paved the way for Radiohead's future albums, such as OK Computer and Kid A, which are widely regarded as some of the best albums of all time.

Furthermore, the song's themes of consumerism and materialism are still as relevant today as they were over two decades ago. In a time where social media and fast fashion dominate our culture, the message of the song is more meaningful than ever.

Fake Plastic Trees is an embodiment of Radiohead's unique sound and ethos. Through their music, they are challenging the status quo and addressing important social issues. The song remains one of their most popular and influential works and is a masterpiece of musical and lyrical artistry.

Conclusion

Radiohead's Fake Plastic Trees is a powerful, poignant, and thought-provoking song that addresses important social issues that are still relevant today. The song's lyrics highlight the destructive nature of consumerism and materialism, and the video showcases a powerful visual critique of our society's obsession with outward appearances, rather than substance. The song's transcendent sound and meaningful themes have made it one of Radiohead's most iconic and powerful works and a testament to their artistic brilliance.

• Release Date: March 13, 1995
• Artist: Radiohead