Radiohead: Talk Show Host Meaning

Talk Show Host Lyrics

I want to, I want to be someone else or I'll explode
Floating upon the surface for
The birds, the birds, the birds

You want me, well fucking well come and find me
I'll be waiting with a gun and a pack of sandwiches
And nothing, nothing,...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Aug 4th 2008 !⃝

   The song is referring to fame and how he dosen't want to be famous
   The first part says he " wants to be someone else or ill explode". The explosion is a metaphor for having a breakdown. He then says "floating on the surface for the birds" The birds are the media, picking at him after he has had this breakdown.
   
   "You want me, fucking well come and find me". He really doesn't care". I'll be waiting with a gun and a packet of sandwiches". He wants pay back, which is indicated by the gun. He is in no rush though, and can wait a long time for it." You want me ? fucking come on and break the door down" He is angry and is egging them on to come for him so he can dish out punishment
2. anonymous

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   Jun 1st 2018 !⃝

   When ask on a MTV Germany music show, Thom admitted all be it reluctantly that the song was about his ongoing struggle with Crohn’s disease.
3. anonymous

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   Jan 13th 2018 !⃝

   My theory™️
   
   It’s about a man who lost something or someone he loves. This can be indicated as the first line says “I want to, I want to be someone or else I’ll explode”, probably indicating about how the death was not an accident, but it was on purpose by terrorists (you decide which one, from Islamic state to the klu klux klan)and how depressed he feels about the incident, like as though he will loose his path of good and go insane (like exploding) and take revenge on the people who wronged him.
   “Floating upon the surface for the birds, the birds, the birds.” It may say that he blames an omnipotent being (something like God) for not stopping this and has began hating uncontrollably. This is because birds, especially doves, represent God. It may also seem like he thinks God’s just doing this out of curiosity or boredom when he says
   floating apon the suface for the birds, like he’s just for God’s amusement.
   You want me, well fucking well come and find me
   “I'll be waiting with a gun and a pack of sandwiches
   And nothing, nothing, nothing” like he’s tormenting the terrorist organisation to finish what they started. The gun symbolises the argressivneess between the two, the sandwiches may be the fact that he will wait for as long as it takes for them to arrive.
   Now, about the “well come on and break the door down” part. That probably symbolises the fact that he wants the terrorists to come into their and his ultimate doom and demise as the guy has his perfect.
   
   (The song belongs to Radiohead and this theory is™️)
4. anonymous

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   Oct 18th 2007 !⃝

   This song is about his desire to be someone else, and he feels as though he has nothing. If they really want him they will have to break the door down and he is ready for them.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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