Radiohead: High And Dry Meaning

Song Released: 1995

High And Dry Lyrics

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
You'd kill yourself for recognition,
Kill yourself to never ever stop
You broke another...

1. anonymous

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   Jun 7th 2010 !⃝

   I heard it was about masturbation.
2. anonymous

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   Aug 16th 2009 !⃝

   My interpretation of this song is that it is about a boy who has let fame go to their head, or that his ego has simply gotten too big..."You broke another mirror, you are turning into something you are not"...
   
   As a result of this the he believes that he is too good for anyone else, thus abandoning the people that care most about him. He no longer talks to his loved ones and soon they all begin to grow tired of his silence..."they'll be the ones who'll spit at you, you will be the one screaming out"...
   
   He abandoned them and it hurt hence the chorus..."Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry"... but it is interesting that in the second chorus it is he that is asking THEM not to abandon HIM.
   
   He has realized that it is too late and that he has lost the best thing he ever had..."It's the best thing that you've ever had, the best thing that you've ever, ever had.It's the best thing that you've ever had, the best thing that you've ever had is gone away"...
   
   Then the chorus repeats, which is like his last cry out for help, but he knows he is alone.
   ...And yeah, thats about it! :)
3. thebestever

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   Jul 22nd 2009 !⃝

   "dont leave me high, dont leave me dry" means that which ever person he's singing about, possibly a significant other or a good pal, he doesn't want them to leave him while he has drugs and when he's not on drugs. which means never.
4. anonymous

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   May 22nd 2009 !⃝

   I think that this is a song about Thom after the recording of Pablo Honey. I remember hearing somewhere that the sucess got to him a bit and he started acting like a 'rock star' arrogent ect "two jumps in a week I bet You think thats pretty clever dont you boy". This pissed off the rest of the band ect "they're the ones who will hate you when you think you've got the world all sussed out" and they nearly kicked him out leaving him "high and dry".
5. sarahbb

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   Jan 16th 2009 !⃝

   i think this song is about a lost soul who wants to be recognised. he is an attention seeker who needs to be noticed; "you'd kill yourself for reacognision."
   he desperately wants to be liked, which may mean being something he isnt. because he is so consumed in this stereotype he wishes to be he forgets about everything that matters. it is then said "there the ones who'll hate you when you think you've got the world all sussed out
   there the ones who'll spit at you, you will be the on screaming out"; meaning that the people he wants to impress while eventually leave him with nothing, and its not worth it.
   anyway, thats just my interpretation
6. anonymous

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   Nov 29th 2008 !⃝

   Thom Yorke in an interview--wooden-faced, simply admitted that the song is/was inspired by his fascination with the arc of Evel Knievel's life. I prefer this interpretation as it's snug as bug, and I don't think he was takin' the piss when he said it.
7. anonymous

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   Sep 8th 2008 !⃝

   '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'
   
   This suggests to me that this person has pushed the limits because of their ego and desperation for fame. In this example a dare devil gone too far who has ultimately ended up as a paraplegic, which has now made him less popular than before and now he regrets it. But this could very well also be in relation to a friend of this person who wants him to stop pushing the boundaries and come back to reality.
8. anonymous

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   Nov 25th 2006 !⃝

   i think that it's everything above, but it's not exactly about being thankful for things, it's more like a typical boy who lives his life on the edge who looks back
   
   he kind of represents all boys that live their lives like that and then look back to kind of miss it and live a different perhaps boring life like they could have made their lives better by being more responsible
   
   -ak
9. mightymuffin5042

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   Jun 23rd 2006 !⃝

   "Two jumps in a week" is about a dare devil-esque person who is living life in the fast lane and not being thankful for a minute of it. He's letting life pass him by and his ego is out of control. He's stopped showing respect for the people he once did. The singer could be asking our dare devil to not leave him "high and dry" as in not leaving him behind as well. Not forgetting about him while he goes off to live his life. This song refers to everyone who doesn't appreciate what they have big and small. The people, their values, their lives.
10. anonymous

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    Jan 20th 2006 !⃝

    Not sure about my ideas on this but I'll give it a bash.
    
    I think it's just about a person (may be a specific person, if you're really into the band and know about it) who has gone down the wrong road in life and has screwed up all their values. Maybe someone who has chosen the superficial over what's really important. Could be about a bloke who, for example is up to his ears in drink, drugs, one night stands and flattery from false people i.e. Someone in the music industry or something. I think the song is written from the perspective of the person's friend/partner who feels they have lost this person and just wants them back.
    
    That's my two cents anyway :o)

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