radiohead song interpretations

pearly*

An interesting song it has few lyrics at all, however the point is expressed easily in one or two lines. How'd you get your teeth so Pearly. A somewhat retorical question, more of spite, at the world as it is. The have and the have-not, are so seperated, and he asks "how". White washed faces, or the anglo saxon majority society that we live in where these people don't even assume a responsibility for the world. Dew Dropped dishes, I beleive is a reference to such novlties as fine china, and the refrain, of She runs from the third world pearly. The modern white leader society, runs from the the third world rich and fat, and with out helping it. Then the story of the Vanilla Milkshakes, from hard Rock Cafe's. This is almost like a mcdonalds corporate world, and then her sweet tooth, is just the thirst, for white boys, or riches. It is a comment on the world, and is perfectly coupled in Meeting People is Easy, with his discussion of Big Banking.

By Michael

may be of interest to note that rite befor this song was played in wellington, NZ thom told us a story about a group of japanese girls that were following the band around shows in said country. Thom asked them where they got their money to do all this; they were so young- and they replied that they slept with business men for money. He then proceeded to dedicate the song to them...the "use me/hurts me" interpretations of everyones favorit controversy lines make more sense in this lite, imho.

By Peter

I think this song is about comparing succeses. It's about trying to keep an eye on the bigger picture, third worlds and people trying to keep depressive thoughts out of there minds. As long as there teath are clean, whereas people in poverty don't give a shit if they have clean or pearly teath. So to summarise the song is saying that everything is relative and that you should not get rapped up in your own little crap.

By Juno

i think this is where thom looks at the ground and shakes his head at cultured natives from less developed countries giving up their own colorful heritage for empty american, or white tastes: shes traded in her chopsticks and elegant silk robes for mcDonalds and tommy hilfiger. she's gone and bleached her ebony hair and she's forgotten where she comes from. or, shes developed an unhealthy inclination towards milkshakes and white boys, damn american franchise invasion. personally, i always thought there was something depressing about seeing russian or japanese or spanish kids on tv all dolled up in american pop paraphernalia screaming for nsync or spice girls or whatever. you just think,"oh no, not you too, i thought it was just here." your shoulders sink and you realize this crap is everywhere. its about modern white quasiculture seeping into what you thought was something more meaningful and poisoning it until they're just byproducts of mtv.