Radiohead
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Karma police, arrest this man
He talks in maths, he buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio
[Verse 2]
Karma police, arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo is making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party
[Chorus]
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get
When you mess with us
[Verse 3]
Karma police, I've given all I can
It's not enough, I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll
[Chorus]
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get
When you mess with us
[Outro]
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
For a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself, I lost myself
Karma Police by Radiohead is a haunting and atmospheric track from their heavily influential album, OK Computer. The song is one of several stunning singles that received worldwide acclaim, thanks to Thom Yorke's strained and lackadaisical vocals and the band's unique dreamlike chord progression. Karma Police is a fascinating song that's equal parts seductive and sinister, with Thom Yorke's warm yet eerie voice creating a velvety bed of uneasy comfort.
About Karma Police
Karma Police is one of the most iconic songs of the '90s, both in terms of its musical composition and the band that created it. The song features Thom Yorke's unmistakable vocal style, which hovers on a knife-edge between a soothing lullaby and a maniacal rant. The result is a sound that's disconcerting, unsettling, and utterly mesmerizing.
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The song opens with a simple, plodding guitar riff before breaking into a dreamlike chord progression that features an old Beatles melody, laid out on the piano. The chord progression creates a sense of uneasy comfort, letting the listener know that something strange, even disturbing, is happening beneath the surface of the song.
Karma Police is a song that's all about opposites: the warm, seductive vocal delivery of Thom Yorke, which is at odds with the dark, twisted lyrics, the creamy dreamlike chords, which contrast with the creepy and sinister undertones of the song's theme. It's these contradictions that make Karma Police such a fascinating song to listen to, and why it's become a beloved classic of the alternative music scene.
The song's title, Karma Police, is itself a contradiction. Karma is typically associated with Eastern spirituality and the law of cause and effect. Meanwhile, the police represent Western law enforcement, authoritarianism, and control. This dichotomy creates a sense of paradox and confusion that perfectly captures the underlying themes of the song.
Lyrically, Karma Police is a surreal and enigmatic journey that explores themes of paranoia, addiction, and control. Thom Yorke's lyrics tell the story of a person on the run from the Karma Police, a metaphorical entity that represents the individual's guilt and past misdeeds. The person in question is a drug addict, consumed by their own paranoia and delusions, running from their past and from the people who seek to control them. The result is a song that's both dark and thought-provoking, leaving the listener to question what the Karma Police represent and what they mean for the individual struggling to outrun them.
Despite the somber tone and the sinister undertones, both Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood have claimed that the song was meant to be comedic, providing levity to an otherwise tense and despondent album through lyrics that were “not entirely serious.” It's a testament to the band's creativity and artistry that they could create a song that's equal parts dark and uplifting, sinister and amusing. It's a song that can be enjoyed on many levels, making it a timeless classic that continues to delight listeners today.
Conclusion
Karma Police by Radiohead is an iconic song that's equal parts seductive and sinister, with Thom Yorke's warm and eerie voice providing a velvety bed of uneasy comfort. The song is a masterclass in contradiction, with its dreamlike chord progression and creepy undertones perfectly capturing the paranoia and delusions of a drug addict on the run from the Karma Police.
Karma Police is a song that's both dark and uplifting, with the band's artistry and creativity elevating it beyond a simple lament about addiction and control. It's a timeless classic that's loved by alternative music fans worldwide, and it's one that will continue to captivate and enthrall listeners for years to come.
- Release Date: May 21, 1997
- Artist: Radiohead