Radiohead. "Creep." Pablo Honey. Parlophone, EMI. 1992. CD
Radiohead's Creep tells the story of a man who is obviously infatuated with a woman. However, any interaction with this woman is impossible as the man feels that he is is in no way acceptable enough to be considered by this woman.
When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fucking special
In the first verse the writer seems to be describing someone he has a deep infatuation for. They seem to be in a social setting where he is staring at this woman he has deep feelings for, staring at her from a distance, as if he is to scared to approach her. He puts this person up on a pedestal and expresses some anger at the same time. Maybe the anger is there because she doesn't notice him at all.
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
The chorus of the verse shows the perfect example of alienation. He seems to be disconnected in the situation he finds himself in. Calling himself a "creep" seems to be his opinion of how others think of him, and the line "I don't belong here" displays his lack of acceptance to those around him.
I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice when I'm not around
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special
He has started to feel the desperation to fit it, and to be remembered by the woman even "if it hurts." The alienation he feels has caused these feelings .
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell I'm doing here?
I don't belong here
She's running out the door
She's running out
She runs runs runs
He never could approach her like he desired. His feelings of alienation, desperation, and self depreciating thoughts caused him to watch from a distance, and now she has left.
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fucking special
I wish I was special
He has come to accept he will most likely never be apart of her world, but ironically these particular words suggest he is at ease as long as she is "happy." Once again there is still some passive aggressive behavior because he wishes he was just as "special" as she was.
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here
They lyrics to Creep show that the man is sensitive and self conscious. These qualities, in the eyes of the author, cause him to feel unwanted and, as the title suggests, creepy. The man's expectations of what the woman might think of him cause him to alienate himself. Alienation from the opposite sex is a popular theme in music, art and film. Creep seems to be a result of our fear of rejection, something that affects the lives of many and can be a cause of self-alienation.
