Radiohead - Reckoner (By Clement Picon)

Video by Clément Picon, one of the winners of the Aniboom animation contest for Radiohead

Follow Radiohead

[VvAndromedavV]

Thom Yorke's vocals on this song are stunning. They are absolutely perfect --- haunting, ethereal, beautiful... I've liked Radiohead since Pablo Honey, and I am so pleased to hear how very far the band has come. This is the most profound song I've heard in a long time, as well.

[ethereal]

Used to listen to this while shooting H. Now I can enjoy it sober. Getting clean is possible. 6 years now.

[eratoisyourmuse]

Im 36. I grew up on radiohead. Im am the mother of two teenagers. My 16 yo daughter is all into Ariana Grande, Rhianna and Lady Gaga. My 14 yo old guitar playing boy loves Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Pantara. Radiohead brings us all together to bask in the beauty of it unique sound, awesome vocals and sheer beauty. We bond. Its an amazing thing.

[ssayonei]

This song is a perfect example of how music can make you feel emotions you didn't even know you had.

[bghbrgfnviurnsfvhuraw]

2:49 is one of the most beautiful moments in music history

[MC-kxly]

[Verse 1]
Reckoner
Can't take it with you
Dancing for your pleasure

[Verse 2]
You are not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak its name

[Refrain]
Dedicated to all hu–
All human beings

[Bridge]
Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
Because we separate (In rainbows)
Like ripples on a blank shore (In rainbows)

[Verse 3]
Reckoner
Take me with you

[Refrain]
Dedicated to all hu–
All human beings

[booled]

3:17 Sorry but this has to be one of the best transitions i have ever heard. Thoms voice going up and down and the “mmmhhh” fits SO GOOD.

[andyc]

Sat here 12 years after losing my dad, reminiscing in a house that I blind rented and just so happens to be laid out almost the same as my dads house was. He’s the reason my love for Radiohead exists.

Thinking of you old man

[MackDaddy]

Who else got goosebumps on the transition from @3:07 "ripples on a blank shore" to "reckoner". It was so haunting, a tear fell down my cheek.

[KG]

55 years old guy here. Listening on Radiohead since OK computer was released. Happy to see so many young but also educated people on this forum.

[junker]

3:16 This part simply blows my mind, when the song kicks in with full force.

[Tuna]

2:24 onwards is just orgasmic. In rainbows is the best Radiohead album, one of the greatest albums ever. And when the Backing vocals say “In rainbows” when Thom sings “Separate like ripples on a blank shore”. Goosebumps

[tacianomm]

Funfact: At the golden ratio of the album, which happens to be in this song, the background vocals can be heard singing "In Rainbows" (name of the album).

[spucclah]

Thom's quiet harmony in the background from "You are not to blame" (1:30) is probably my favourite part of the song and no ones even mentioned it

[lindahermer]

The song is so richly vibrant through its middle, then it slowly leaves you, like life.

[minustacozero]

I want this song to be the last thing I hear before I die. It will be a nice transition.

[saoirserosenstock]

Song "meaning"- taken from the highest voted answer


The color of Goehte's masterpiece has rippled through the medium of Radiohead with their album, In Rainbows. The character, Faust, observes that life is not about some great search for divine light, but rather, it is about the practice of living with the enlightenment of God at your back; thus allowing it to guide you forward through your organic life, and not lead you down a dead-end path of obsession. This is essentially what the phrase "In Rainbows" means. It is the recognition that the source light which governs our world cannot really be seen nor fully understood by human beings ("dare not speak its name"). Although we have moments of clarity and deep understanding, these moments are generally temporary and don't last very long. As Thom Yorke said of the album, "It very much explores the ideas of transience. It starts in one place and ends somewhere completely different." This is the transient nature of human consciousness being described by the character Faust in the passage.;

Yet how superb, across the tumult braided,


The painted rainbow's changeful life is bending,


Now clearly drawn, dissolving now and faded,


And evermore the showers of dew descending!


Of human striving there's no symbol fuller:


Consider, and 'tis easy comprehending –


Life is not light, but the refracted color.


-Faust II



So who is The Reckoner?



At a concert in Glendale, Arizona, Thom Yorke stated:

"..it [the song, Reckoner] was born out of a very trippy dream, one of those ones you wake up from and go, 'aww man, I don't want to wake up from that, ever.'"



The Reckoner is the one who wakes you up when you wish to remain in your current perceived reality or dream-state. It is the transient way of true nature that we all need to reckon with and accept. For Faust, this means that he must live up to his bargain with Mephistopheles, who represents the Devil. Note that Mephistopheles is mentioned by-name in another song on the album: Videotape.



As the story goes, Faust becomes so obsessed with discovering the true nature of life, he summons Mephistopheles to help him in this quest. Mephistopheles agrees to serve Faust right up until the moment he reaches the height of human wisdom/happiness/fulfillment; at which point, he will claim Faust's soul. Faust agrees to the deal because he actually thinks it would be impossible for him to reach that height.



Ultimately, however, Faust does experience a moment of pure happiness, and so Mephistopheles attempts to claim his soul... that is, Faust is woken up from his happy slumber. Luckily, Faust is ultimately rescued by a group of angels who escort him to heaven before Mephistopheles can take him.



The theme of transience can also be seen in the previous song on the album, Faust Arp ("it's on again, off again, on again")... another obvious reference to the tale of Faust. The sound of the music, like Reckoner, is also heavy with percussion and transient in that it folds over on itself between piano & guitar portions.



The most accessible metaphor that I can see for this idea is how people tend to want to escape from reality (that's the "bittersweet distractor"), and would rather call in sick on their day of reckoning. They, unlike The Reckoner (or Buddha, if you prefer) cannot overcome the division between self and other (i.e. subject and object, which make for the transient/dualistic ways of human beings). Again, we have moments of clarity and understanding, but they don't last.. "like ripples on a blank shore".

[amandaconlon]

Idk why so many ppl think OK computer is their best album. It is a masterpiece, but not their best work imo. For me its in rainbows hands down. It stirs up sooo many emotions in me, its amazing .Only kid a comes close

[rajaiyer]

Reckoner
Radiohead
Lyrics
Reckoner
You can't take it with yer
Dancing for your pleasure
You are not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak its name
Dedicated to all human beings
Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
In rainbows
Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
Reckoner
Take me with yer
Dedicated to all human beings

[NightSky]

I blew out my car speakers when I heard this song for the first time. it was a beautiful moment in life.