The Dark Meaning Behind Radiohead’s "15 Step"

[@Narcomancer1943]

I remember getting this for free while I was at school, didn't have anything to give. but for years I fell in love with the album and ended up donating more than I would have paid for any other album. Beautiful album.

[@ChrisJones-vy2fp]

Highly empathic people tend to attract narcissistic people, and vice versa. Only someone who's been in this situation really knows, but the cycle of love bombing is what this song makes me think of. Everything is good and you think you're good enough for them, and then they cut the string. And you're back at square one, starting over. You're never good enough and it's quite cruel. It's an addictive cycle, and you just want to get back to that person you fell in love with. Not saying Thom experienced this, but this song and many others on the album have that kind of vibe to me. Some see the world in black and white. Others in rainbows?

[@badonkalover]

💕💕

[@TotoOrlanski]

This is so true

[@stephenherrington3549]

All I can say to that is... Wow.... (in a good way)

[@dedona0013]

prob the best comment ive ever read

[@tismejaytee]

“He constantly falls in love only to be toyed with and rejected” You and me both, Thom

[@someonesaccountforwritingn9894]

i bought my 70 year old grandma in rainbows the other week and she said thought 15 step was a bit depressing. i had no idea what she was talking about and told her about the gloom index and how its statistically the "happiest" radiohead song. i guess this video explains it

[@matthewsaul3533]

What does this video explain again? Lol this song is not in a major key, nor is it in one key lol my guess is that the people who rate this as a happy song are young and don’t hear everything in it. I’m not sure Thom Yorke has ever written a song that could generally considered happy. Even songs that have aspects that could be perceived as positive have a lot of grief in them.

[@PalaceDude]

Even if we ignore the lyrics, I always thought the bridge of the song (if you call that a bridge) and onwards till the end, it's very dark sounding.

[@MyBeautifulDarkTwistedFantasy6]

Yeah this is definitely one of their darker songs, I wish they’d go back to making happy shit like Street Spirit, Exit Music, and How To Disappear Completely.

[@jacksonwaldon]

“Happy”

[@droptherapy2085]

​@@jacksonwaldon I do believe that was the joke

[@jack-uv6mt]

get an orginal name

[@zackzallie8735]

Thank you, Kanye's best album.

[@jack-uv6mt]

@reely LOLOL

[@cityslacker6221]

It’s 15 steps THEN a sheer drop, not THAN a sheer drop.

[@Landon_c]

I actually never thought of this song as happy, I have no reason why. I used to cry to it. The end is so intense. And the lyrics bring it all together.

[@jmarkussn]

always though the '15 steps' part was a drum machine step sequencer reference, which normally has 16 steps ( drum machines were heavily used in this album )

[@rpichinine]

15 step always sounded dark as shit to me. just the "you used to be alright, what happened?" used to hit me so hard, it was always a sad song to me

[@concon172]

Man, this song came up to my youtube mix the other week (only listened to ok computer) and listened to the whole album immediately. Only thought, the beeps and boops are great mhm and didn't actually know the meaning behind it. I like your interpretation of it, makes me appreciate the song even more.

[@pezaoBsb]

15 step is definitely upbeat, and the use of a Major scale makes it sound happy as well. But I still think their happiest song is Jigasaw, and to me the lyrics blend better with a happy, even thrilling feeling the song provides.

[@saldaki2689]

It uses 2 scales and neither are a major one

[@JonathanRodriguez-il7xs]

I don’t think it’s about suicide, just death. When someone is at the gallows, they’re not the one hanging themselves. It could just be a metaphor for something in his life dying. Perhaps a relationship?

[@calebblow6846]

Why a metaphor ? Maybe take the words literally - drug addiction .15 step = rehab program . Maybe .

[@JonathanRodriguez-il7xs]

@ 12 steps in rehab as far as I know

[@calebblow6846]

@@JonathanRodriguez-il7xs Maybe the English one has 15 . The lyrics do seem to line up - and using the word " step " in and of itself seems like more than coincidence . I.M.H.O. of course . I think the point of the song is ..." sure , you got me sober , but then what have you got to prevent me having to deal with the eternal void I was trying to escape in the first place " . ..." you used to be alright ...what happened ..." .You know ... there was a time when you were strong , and not fucked - up ... why did you weaken in the end ? Take Care .

[@nomad1517]

House of Cards is one of the most sonically beautiful songs i've ever heard. I'm huge into ambient music, they nailed it perfectly with that one.

[@OurMHVs]

I think it’s the most boring on in rainbows. But then again, it isn’t a bad song

[@Sadius]

It's actually one of my favorites off the album and I'm surprised how many find it to be their least favorite.

[@ToniToniChopaaa]

@@Sadiuswell what’s your least favorite?

[@Sadius]

@@ToniToniChopaaa I'll be completely honest it's videotape 😭I really wish I could like it more but it's just so repetitive. Love the 2006 version though

[@ToniToniChopaaa]

@@Sadius that’s honestly valid.

[@sonakshi8378]

This was one of the few radiohead songs I would dance around to, now I cant. This is too dark :((

[@Exventory]

Sorry…

[@codaboi138]

Dance to it anyway. Life is gloomy, but what else are you gonna do but dance?

[@zackzallie8735]

There are lot of dark songs you can dance to, such as Joy Division and Bauhaus.

[@Home-th1mh]

​@@codaboi138 Agree

[@jcreature11]

All songs have a dark meaning. Every single great singer is severely depressed unfortunately…

[@Stemp]

Very good start! congrats on 500!

[@treyebillups8602]

I never really considered 15 Step a very happy song, I think the title of happiest Radiohead song goes to Desert Island Disk or maybe Worrywort

[@Exventory]

Well I mean title is a different story. There was a bot that ranked every Radiohead song from happiest to saddest and this was the happiest on the album. Of course it’s not ACTUALLY a happy song

[@aali778]

I find melatonin quite uplifting

[@dpd8075]

i feel like its gotta be there, there

[@canttuchdis123]

Lift for sure is their happiest

[@thomasmartin9735]

"in a major key" G#m: "am I a joke to you?"

[@brightoneasterling9304]

I appreciate this comment

[@pal-of-pals]

Loved this video! Makes me wanna listen to In Rainbows again. :)

[@mdompontarelli]

Love this explanation I always took this as generally the cycles of life, struggles with breaking them to become something else/something more... hope reels you out, then you feel like you've gone nowhere. Then, eventually, you die. "You used to be alright" as the youthful hope one has where they feel they are developing into the person they want to become and feel that genuinely is happening... but as you get older, you realize you're unable to transform very much.

[@deadfr0g]

It’s just a twelve-step program with extra steps!

[@calebblow6846]

Finally someone else see's it my way ...

[@D2000222]

"because of its major key" ...but it's in minor, it's just quick and has some major chords

[@imaybehot4734]

Congrats 500!

[@AI-mg3hy]

I'm not sure who calls it the happiest radiohead song...even on the same album bodysnatchers sounds downright joyous compared to almost anything else in their catalogue.

[@SomethingImpromptu]

I don’t hear airbag even slightly, but 15 Step is a masterpiece IMO. So gorgeous.

[@mhtbfecsq1]

Major key 🤔 . Ironically a lot of Radioheads darker songs are in major keys, but 15 step uses Dorian minor.

[@joehoppard814]

Yeah, i thought this too. Deffo not Major.

[@willcurtis7066]

I think the main riff is in dorian

[@FilmFallon]

This is wonderful analasis mate, so glad I heard it

[@jasonirwin2947]

In Rainbows is my favourite album from them and second is OK Computer and third Kid A but The Bends is also great

[@zulqarnain9955]

Third is All hail to the thief for me

[@carlpiaf4476]

The bit "where I belong" I feel is crucial as an acknowledgement of determinism.

[@WilliamMckenna]

Nice Quadeca track in the back

[@johnpatriots21]

Summit Pt 2 goes hard tho

[@AriyanVelayati-zs1rp]

Loved the end part " this was the Radiohead happiest song🙂

[@Propulsion4]

I love Radiohead, always have. So I remember watching this.

[@PeloquinDavid]

What? An AMBIGUOUS juxtaposition between lyrics and music in a RADIOHEAD song??? Who knew?

[@jameswhee]

I didn't know Big Fat Quiz has been around this long

[@rkr6237]

I’m sorry but Shiny Happy People is the happiest song Radiohead has ever written. How there can be even any debate about this is hilarious to me

[@calebblow6846]

Probably because it's an R.E.M. song .

[@polosgravato2737]

15 step is in g# dorian which is minor with major 6th so it's minor acutally, It feels a bit more "open" but it's not major

[@genequist3859]

Amateur analysis at best. He's not talking about killing himself, he's talking about someone else doing it to him, and using death as a metaphor for something ending abruptly. It's about something ending without warning or while his back was turned, inspiring him to refuse to take his eyes off the ball again. And this is not Radiohead's happiest song. That would be Airbag. Literally about a new lease on life and not in a sarcastic way. You'd know that if you heard it. Probably the biggest problem I have with people who analyze pop music is how they can never seem to imagine that lyrics may have something to do with topics aside from drugs or relationships.

[@bkj43]

I feel Lucky is a contender for happiest Radiohead song.

[@jico5147]

music can be interpreted in many ways and there are literal references to both so shut your pretentious ass up.

[@ironzhunder99]

"This is the happiest radiohead song" killed me

[@Millennial_Mike]

I'm a massive Radiohead fan... yet I was totally ignorant to this... especially love the links to 15 in previous songs.

[@Isaactop12]

Thought I was bugging when I heard summit pt2

[@LentilsOverkill]

1:54…is wrong. it’s in G# Dorian. You can hear that minor third in the very first chord.

[@GardinerChris5]

Nice vid! Cheers

[@levimanville5638]

even sneaking in king krule

[@honkdishScratch]

something silly is that the intro to 15 step (before thom starts singing) can be counted as two 15's

[@doncaplays]

I never saw 15 step as a happy song

[@justinalbee5414]

i also heard that ‘15 steps than a sheer drop’ is referring to a guillotine, so yet again, another death reference

[@normasosa3256]

Great video!!!!

[@classicbros484]

great video, keep it up!

[@stankystorms7170]

goated song i love in rainbows so much

[@FavioWinehouse]

🙌🏽 regards mate

[@GeorgeTheDinoGuy]

This video is so good

[@ku9833]

Such a fantastic album ❤❤❤❤❤still will hold always genius everything they do is brilliant though

[@silverlink8805]

I always assumed it was about betrayal, personally. To me that suits the lyrics better

[@stitchgrimly6167]

It's not even in a major key. It's in dorian mode, which is the happiest minor but minor nonetheless, and the ending is all minors. It even modulates from Ebm and Dbm to Cm at the very end. Minors all round baby (except the second chord in the main guitar riff). So instead of saying it's in a major key, we could just say it has a major chord. And do you know a lot of the saddest songs are in major? How To Disappear Completely, Fog, No Surprises, Fake Plastic Trees, Videotape...

[@ezioauditore806]

Such a wicked video! Where did you get the clips of the art from? Looks like Stanley Donwoods paintings but as little videos instead! Love it!

[@walterrys]

If you thought this was a happy song than you must only listening to the music. Lyrical dissonance is one reason why i love Radiohead. Next thing your gonna tell me "No Surprises" is a sweet lullaby....

[@mas7975]

BRO WTF DID I JUST HEAR QUADECA

[@JayCamVEVO]

0:02 looks like a deepfake meme, lol Great vid as per ussual!

[@Themis2027]

As in all Radiohead songs go, You have to read between the lines: This song isn't about love or suicide, its about the collective mind of people and/or society in the guise of the philosophy of Sisyphus, trying to grasp the notion of a utopian illusion, and the political leaders who attempt to misguide us into believing that its achievable by electioneering us into believing into their political views, its a reactive song as opposed to 2+2=5 which is a proactive song or call to arms! the narrator of the song is Sisyphus exclaiming: "How come I end up where I started? How come I end up where I went wrong, won't take my eyes of the ball again, first you reel me out and then you cut the string" People who don't participate in politics know this, the trick of a politician is to present you a common ideology and their Prestige for such an illusion is their Election. Once elected that "String" is cut, but that string came undone. "You used to be alright, what happened" is a reaction of the disillusioned participant, "Did the cat get your tongue" is the silence of the elected official not doing what was promised during his campaign, but all this backfires when things do not go right, and this is a reference from the invasion of Iraq "Did your string come undone? one by one, comes to us all, is it soft as your pillow" from 2003 through 2008 and until just recently, the war in Iraq was being fought on the ground and plans for a swift change in Iraq did not come easily for that invasion, millions of innocent people died. meanwhile back in the states things were being blurred by misinformation and silly terrorist warning charts that never came into fruition, this would be used against us in the following decade with racism and fear along with domestic terrorism by its own citizens. "Facts for whatever" whoever needed silly charts and reasons for invasion and terms like weapons of mass destruction would be supplied, but then came the financial crash of 2008---"15 steps then a sheer drop" All this done and enable by a political leader that raised terrorism to new heights of surveillance and paranoia., so the the lukewarm questions again: "How come I end up where I started, How come I end up where I went wrong, won't take my eyes off the ball again, you reel me out and then you cut the string" Sisyphus in Its endless cycle of lifting that great rock of Democracy up that Hill. This song is prophetic as it was written during the Iraq invasion and released (Oct. 2007) a year before the housing crash of 2008 (Reckoner) and then "Bodysnatchers" would also harbinger the nationalist/Neo-nazism and ugliness that Americans would soon have to deal with in the election of another megalomaniac. RADIOHEAD ARE TO BE LISTENED TO WITH EXTTREME CAUTION, because they do throw it to where the wind could be blowing.

[@AngeloAbela]

Best €10 I ever spent

[@Fn_AZ01]

In my personal opinion, i think its about thinking about suicide. The lyrics "How come i end up when i started? How come i end up when i belong?" seem like thr person is looking at his life wondering if he really should do it. "Used to be alright, what happened?" is the person wondering what he did to be stuck in this position he is in.

[@liefhebbend]

2:27 King Krule niceee

[@pepperbytez8128]

Bangers and mash is probably their "happiest" song?

[@Exventory]

Yeah it’s up there definitely

[@nirodha60]

But again the lyrics are really dark

[@iexclipsei]

knives out is a really dark song as well

[@yasseford]

"The happiest Radiohead song because of the major key" Bro so many songs of theirs are in major key, but I do like this video nonetheless.

[@EliTriesToBeFunny]

Im surprised yall thought that there was a actually happy Radiohead song

[@Charles-Robitaille]

The narrator is pretty naïve in regards to this one idea, saying, " It (making an album) shouldn't be about money, it should be about how good the album sounds." Dude....to make an album that sounds good you need money. To pay for food, your mortgage, your bills, you need money. Artists such as Radiohead need money to live just like anybody else. Enough with this nonsense that artists should do their art and expect nothing in return. No one can be sustained that way. Probably the only reason Radiohead can do this "pay what you want" thing is because they are already super known and super rich, but for the up and comers, the next Radioheads, they can't live on well wishing. People have got to realize that if you want great art, great music etc... you have got to become a patron of the arts.

[@bobseeee]

how dare you cut his laugh at the start. I cant forgive you

[@brianwanbaugh7485]

I paid 5 dollars. Totally worth it

[@jorrelherrera6695]

Whyd i hear cellular for a second lol

[@jjharson7344]

So what I got from this, is that the happiest radiohead song is where Thom gets to kill himself by jumping from a 15th floor window and is happy about it? Damn that hits hard......

[@jjharson7344]

btw I absolutely love Radiohead and Thoms & Johnny's music....

[@michaelnathan9550]

Pun intended? Haha

[@epetridis]

Honestly,, I suspect this misses the mark, but I might be wrong :-P Thom lost his life partner during Kid A and is left with a son I believe from her to look after - I'm not sure he's writing unrequited love songs anymore at this point - think things have moved on to more grown up things - I always took this song to be sung to oneself.

[@unclerogerANKI]

Uhm, no. His partner died after A Moon Shaped Pool was released. Also, a song could be about something, it doesn't mean it had to be a first hand experience, or an experience from that moment in life for the songwriter.

[@SortaSpooby]

hee walk

[@We_all_die]

I initially paid $0 for the free download at the time then finally picked up the LP when I grew up and love it. What a great album to listen to lsd on. It’s dark and wild

[@kygin]

You used to be alright

[@mikaailahmed5679]

I dont know how anyone thinks this is a happy song. Quite the contrary. And isn't this in a minor key?

[@contranym_]

happiest song ??? unanimously known as ??? do yall really

[@CharlieFintan]

was that cellular i heard????

[@CharlieFintan]

ahahahaha it is

[@SliceJosiah]

1:55 15 Step isn't in major key? It's literally minor.

[@srlchelo]

I though it was a song inspired in High School Musical, as Yorke says "Won't take my eyes off the ball again" and the 15 steps could be related to kind of a strategy where you can goal with only that number of steps. Also, the You reel me out then you cut the string could easily be a message from Troy to Gabriella saying that he is only playing with his feelings. But yeah, your theory have more sense

[@lucastaylor8321]

Radiohead did say high school musical was a big insparation for them growing up

[@srlchelo]

@@lucastaylor8321 really? when?

[@irishpaul3129]

@@lucastaylor8321 😁

[@ericyoung1210]

Known as one of their happier songs????

[@biggiy]

Damn

[@the.derealizer]

YO WAS THAT A QUADECA SONG IN THERE?? 🔥

[@vrt0racle306]

yeah, it caught me off guard as well, love me some quad

[@AgnusDei695]

supreme god of music? lol what

[@DoctorPotassium]

The video is very quiet

[@Formaldehyde499]

whats the song you play in the background?

[@timothytosser288]

Happiest radiohead song and it is about suicide bruh

[@jamestheronchapman]

is 15 step commonly known as a happy song? and is it in a major key? asking for a depressed musician friend.

[@James-vv7vh]

Nobody calls it their happiest song

[@nwbrne]

5/8

[@davidloveday8473]

15 step isn't in a major key.

[@Exventory]

Bassline is in the chorus. But what I meant to say was that it was upbeat.

[@cosmicbrownielover911]

True Love Waits isn’t in minor

[@LuxuriousLenay]

Their happiest song sounds pretty messed up. 😅

[@nvrmor023]

No surprises does this better

[@tails_show_tv]

I dont understand how this is deep but oke!

[@NoshWinterson]

15 Step isn’t in a major key…

[@ata5855]

happy song? major chords? only one of the three chords used in the song are major, the others are minor. wtf?

[@liamuttt]

It’s not a major key tho 😂

[@dylanl2258]

He's speaking to God and about the book of Jonah.

[@hughgrection5674]

Only Radiohead can make such depressing subject matter sound uplifting, that’s pure songcraft 👍 we will never see the like of them again 😉

[@lifemusic1980]

The Smiths definitely do that as well.

[@Atlas65]

@@lifemusic1980 And Belle And Sebastian even more

[@zackainsley]

And Outkast