Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two jumps in a week
I bet you think that's pretty clever, don't you boy?
Flying on your motorcycle
Watching all the ground beneath you drop
Kill yourself for recognition
Kill yourself to never ever stop
You broke another mirror
You're turning into something you are not
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Drying up in conversation
You will be the one who cannot talk
All your insides fall to pieces
You just sit there wishing you could still make love
They're the ones who'll hate you
When you think you've got the world all sussed out
They're the once who'll spit at you
You'll be the one screaming out
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Oh, it's the best thing that you ever had
The best thing you ever, ever had
It's the best thing that you ever had
The best thing you have had is gone away
D-don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
The lyrics of Radiohead's song "High And Dry" are reflective of the internal struggles and emotional pain experienced by an individual who feels lost and disconnected from both themselves and the world around them. The opening lines of the song, "Two jumps in a week, I bet you think that's pretty clever, don't you boy?" expresses a sense of restlessness and a desire for recognition, potentially fueled by a fear of being forgotten or passed over. The reference to the motorcycle and the sensation of watching the ground drop below serves as a metaphor for the feeling of detachment from reality and a desire to escape.
The subsequent lines "Kill yourself for recognition, Kill yourself to never ever stop, You broke another mirror, You're turning into something you are not" describe an internal battle that takes place within the individual's psyche. The notion of "killing oneself" is both a metaphor for the exhaustion felt by the person in question, as well as an acknowledgement of the lengths they may be willing to go to in order to find success, happiness, or a sense of fulfillment. The reference to the broken mirror and the idea of "turning into something you are not" suggests a sense of dissatisfaction with one's own self-image and the desire to change or be something different.
The lyrics "All your insides fall to pieces, You just sit there wishing you could still make love" reveal a deeper sense of loneliness and despair within the individual. The reference to "insides fall to pieces" indicates a sense of emotional turmoil and disconnection, while the desire to "still make love" is indicative of a longing for human connection and intimacy. The closing lines of the song call out for someone to "don't leave me high, don't leave me dry" which suggests a fear of being abandoned, both physically and emotionally.
Two jumps in a week
You think you're making progress, but it's not as big of an accomplishment as you think.
I bet you think that's pretty clever, don't you boy?
You're full of yourself and think you're smarter than you actually are.
Flying on your motorcycle
You're reckless and feel invincible, but it won't last forever.
Watching all the ground beneath you drop
You have no regard for consequences and are only focused on your temporary thrill.
Kill yourself for recognition
You're willing to sacrifice everything for fame and approval from others.
Kill yourself to never ever stop
You're so desperate for success that you're willing to go to extreme measures to keep it going.
You broke another mirror
You're causing bad luck for yourself and not learning from your mistakes.
You're turning into something you are not
You're changing your behavior and personality to fit in with a certain crowd or image.
Don't leave me high
Don't abandon me when I'm feeling good.
Don't leave me dry
Don't abandon me when I'm feeling down and vulnerable.
Drying up in conversation
You have nothing to say and are socially awkward.
You will be the one who cannot talk
You're so uncomfortable that you won't be able to communicate effectively.
All your insides fall to pieces
Your emotions and mental health are deteriorating.
You just sit there wishing you could still make love
You're nostalgic for a time when you felt more alive and passionate.
They're the ones who'll hate you
The people you think are your friends will turn on you.
When you think you've got the world all sussed out
You think you know everything, but you're wrong.
They're the once who'll spit at you
Your so-called friends will betray you and actively dislike you.
You'll be the one screaming out
You'll be left alone and desperate for help.
Oh, it's the best thing that you ever had
You had something amazing, but you took it for granted.
The best thing you ever, ever had
That wonderful thing is gone forever.
The best thing that you ever had
You'll realize too late that what you had was incredible.
The best thing you have had is gone away
You've lost something irreplaceable and can't get it back.
D-don't leave me high
Once again, please don't abandon me when I'm feeling good.
Don't leave me dry
And please don't abandon me when I'm feeling vulnerable and alone.
Don't leave me high
Don't abandon me when things are going well.
Don't leave me dry
Don't abandon me when I need you the most.
Don't leave me high
I need someone to lean on when I'm feeling great.
Don't leave me high
Please don't abandon me when I'm on top of the world.
Don't leave me dry
And please don't leave me when I'm at rock bottom.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
