Radiohead

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Can't get the stink off
He's been hanging 'round for days
Comes like a comet
Suckered you but not your friends

[Pre-Chorus 1]
One day he'll get to you
And teach you how to be a holy cow

[Chorus]
You do it to yourself, you do
And that's why it really hurts
Is that you do it to yourself, just you
You and no one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself

[Verse 2]
Don't get my sympathy
Hanging out the fifteenth floor
You've changed the locks three times
He still comes reeling through the door

[Pre-Chorus 2]
One day I'll get to you
And teach you how to get to purest hell
[Chorus]
You do it to yourself, you do
And that's why it really hurts
Is that you do it to yourself, just you
You and no one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]
You do it to yourself, you do
And that's why it really hurts
Is that you do it to yourself, just you
You and no one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself
Self

[Outro]
(You do it to yourself!)
(You do it to yourself!)
(Oh, you do it to yourself!)
(Oh, you do it to yourself!)

Radiohead has been a band that has managed to revolutionize the world of alternative rock since the early 90s. After the success of their debut album, Pablo Honey, the band came out with another album that would solidify their place in the music industry. The Bends, their second album, featured many popular tracks, including "High and Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees." However, the track that stood out the most was "Just." The track delves into the protagonist's deranged mind, capturing their insecurities, and dissatisfaction with society.

About Just

"Just" became the third single and the sixth track on Radiohead's second album, The Bends, released in 1995. The lyrics were penned by Thom Yorke, the lead vocalist and songwriter of the band. The song tells a story of a person who feels alienated from society, haunted by paranoia, and is ultimately responsible for isolating themselves. The protagonist is lashing out at their friend, who Yorke once described as one of the most narcissistic people he had ever met. In an interview with Select Magazine, he described the song as "a perfect example of a good old-fashioned suburban neurosis."

The track starts with a catchy guitar riff from Jonny Greenwood, followed by Phil Selway's drums, and Colin Greenwood's bass. Thom Yorke's iconic falsetto vocals come in with the lines, "Can't get the stink off/He's been hanging around for days/Comes like a comet/Suckered you but not your friends." The song culminates in a powerful bridge where Yorke is screaming, "You do it to yourself, you do / And that's what really hurts / Is that you do it to yourself / Just you, you and no one else."

The song "Just" has a unique story in its creation. It was written primarily as a challenge between Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke. The dispute was about putting "as many chords as possible into a song." Yorke took up the challenge and ended up writing one of the most complex songs in Radiohead's discography. The song has a staggering seven chords in its chorus, making it arguably one of the most challenging songs to play on guitar.

Thom Yorke has talked about the music video for "Just" as being a moment of the band standing on the edge of a cliff. The music video, directed by Jamie Thraves, shows a man lying down in the middle of a pavement while being surrounded by people who want to know why he is lying down. He finally blurts out the reason - "Because I am an alien." The reason for this decision by the director, as Thom Yorke has explained, was to dedicate their music video to those who end up questioning everything and feel isolated. Radiohead always knew how to reach their audience and make them feel recognized.

The song "Just" was a significant success in the UK, ranking as Radiohead's highest-charting single since "Creep." The song peaked at number 20 in the UK charts and became an instant hit among fans of alternative rock. Through this song, Radiohead managed to create a unique sound that would inevitably define them as one of the most influential bands of our time.

Conclusion

"Just" is one of Radiohead's masterpieces that was born out of an experiment. The captivating rhythm and lyrics of the track are what make it stand out as one of the prime examples of alternative rock. The idea and backstory of the song added an extra layer of compelling storytelling, making it fascinating for fans and music enthusiasts to unravel the story behind it. "Just" showed that Radiohead was ahead of its time, always experimenting and pushing their boundaries. The song became a significant success for the band and cemented their position in the music industry when it came to creating thought-provoking and influential music.

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