“2+2=5” is one of my favourite Radiohead songs and a very famous Radiohead song indeed, all fans have a place in their heart for this one whether it’s good or bad. It is a combination of all that is great in Radiohead songs. As the first track on the “Hail to the thief” album it is the signature song even quoting the album name in the lyrics. 2+2=5 prepares you for what’s impending acting as a fantastic intro.
The song itself feels bumpy, rough and even haunting with a slow soft building to a crescendo until the long slur of “It’s the devils way now” verse. The first three verses much like the song itself prepare you for what’s coming next or a talisman as I like to call it.The first three verses emphasise harsh imagery of a corrupt world crumbling under its filth, the quote “two and two always makes a five” along with the song title and whole idea of the song is in obvious reference to George Orwells “1984” in which the statement of (2+2=5) is symbolic of false propaganda and in which people are to conform and compromise their own thoughts and beliefs to be imposed and assimilated to one belief forced (2+2=5).
It creates the ideal of appearance vs. reality and authority vs. Rebelliousness. In context many fans like to think the song relates to American politics which in a way can be true but I like to think it proposes ideas in a deeper way. (2+2=5) is symbolic of something that is planted in your head, what you are made to believe just like “1984”, so in a way this is juxtaposed to any government regulating what you think and what you do. Think about the recent movie “inception” where an idea is planted in your dreams influencing what you do in reality. In reality 2+2=4 but what if you were made to think of it differently betraying your thoughts and creating deception like in “1984”. This is a theme I think is present in the song.
After the incoherent first three verses, the melody picks up to a fast pace much like a struggle when hearing Tom yorke's passionate voice echoing after each repetition of a previous line, with the synthesized strains of the background rhythm whines and creates an effect only Radiohead can achieve. The Repeated lines Tom sings emphasise ignorance of the soul and spirit creating a persona questioning its thoughts and actions, the repetition representing the resistance and conformity battling it out. Much like a downfall or breakdown the lyrics, voice and melody play out to the rest of the song.
Great Song
