anonymous May 7th, 2006 02:28PM  
For me, this song is about a private place inside each of our minds, from which we silently pick on others' foibles and quirks - misanthropy surging within us for no good reason, while we remain completely calm on the outside. (Think about how you feel commuting to work.)

Ahnfelt October 12th, 2007 04:53PM  
This is speculation, but in light of recent events:
http://www.inrainbows.com/

They're talking about the music industry (the man/woman). First verse is about how they only think of money (maths), and how they're not listening (detuned radio).

The chorus is a thread talking about the plan they now realized (see link).

Third verse is about how they tried to change it, but failed (I've given all I can, but we're still on the payroll).

anonymous November 29th, 2007 06:51AM  
In interviews, Radiohead have said that "The Karma Police will catch up with him" was a jokey phrase they started using when they thought someone was acting like a prick. The bit about the guy who buzzes like a fridge and the girl with the Hitler hairdo are examples of this, while "Karma Police, I've given all I can but its not enough" shows Thom's despair at the offensiveness of people bursting through, while "Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself" sees him regaining his outward, public composure.

anonymous December 19th, 2007 01:24PM  
Judge not lest you be judged. "For a minute there I lost myself." Tolerance for the evil in others because the fraught battle between good and evil within ourselves is usually in bad shape so we should have compassionate towards other's failings.

Odysseus December 29th, 2007 02:13PM  
It's about a totalitarian government that uses a technology which can read your thoughts. The lyrical I is a subordinate citizen who denunciates others (the man, the girl), because they are mad(the man) or show a non-conform attitude(hitler-hairdo). The girl criticizes the government by comparing it to another totalitarian state (germany under hitler). The lyrical I even committed vigilantism (crashing her party) with like-minded people(we). After this the lyrical I has a moment of doubt on the whole system but wipes it away. phew, a colloquial phrase maybe shows the low intelligence and lack of reflection by the citizens, which are kept stupid by the government. I would appreciate comments in any way.

mcyieDakootyroaches July 9th, 2008 02:44AM  
I dunno bout you people, but this song was somehow like a soundtrack of my life when I was at the uni and few jobless and shitty job years after that.(and that was somewhere btw year 2000-2005, not the 90's lol)
' he talks in maths He buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio'', the song was playing in my head in the lecture hall with the professor 'buzzing' with theories and stuff, and my mind was completely in different place if not zzzz..., thus, "the detuned radio". God, please, somebody, arrest this man, could somebody in the world be more boring that him?
'Ive given all I can, its not enough Ive given all I can, but were still on the payroll"- when I was working at the bank doing sales job, with my boss, it's always, sales target, sales target and sales target, it was never enough, I was totally like robot, doing the same thing every single day. The payroll kept me in office for almost a year, after that, unemployed again.
One more thing was with the political scenario in Malaysia that, the authoritarian govt, the self-censored media and masses, I was like living in ORWELL'S 1984. So depressing. Luckily I got my 'speakwrite'- my punk band at that time.

mcyieDakootyroaches July 9th, 2008 02:59AM  
I got a band, I wrote my own stuff, and the lyrics somehow inspired some of my songs, just like the movie, Fight Club did.

I dunno bout you people, but this song was somehow like a soundtrack of my life when I was at the uni and few jobless and shitty job years after that.(and that was somewhere btw year 2000-2005, not the 90's lol)
' he talks in maths He buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio'', the song was playing in my head in the lecture hall with the professor 'buzzing' with theories and stuff, and my mind was completely in different place if not zzzz..., thus, "the detuned radio". God, please, somebody, arrest this man, could somebody in the world be more boring that him?

'Ive given all I can, its not enough Ive given all I can, but were still on the payroll"- when I was working at the bank doing sales job, with my boss, it's always, sales target, sales target and sales target, it was never enough, I was totally like robot, doing the same thing every single day. The payroll kept me in office for almost a year, after that, unemployed again.
One more thing was with the political scenario in malaysia that time, the authoritarian govt, the self-censored media and masses, I was like living in ORWELL'S 1984. So depressing. Luckily I got my 'speakwrite'- my punk band at that time.

So there, that's my personal interpretation of the song. It's like an alter ego, or when you are smiling, nodding at your boss' speech, the voice inside of you said, "I wanna bite his ears for breakfast"- kind of thing. It's you getting away from the hyper consumerist-popular culture-capitalistic society of the day.

one thing that puzzled me tho'.who's that girl with the Hitler hairdo? It wasn't Mag Thatcher, was she?

bobdylan December 28th, 2008 01:37AM  
This song is about the End of the World. Kidding! It's about hate and cruelty. About people punishing others and claiming that they deserve it--playing the Karma Police. Sure, Karma exists. Things come back to bite you on the ass. But, also, must people are viscous and miserable and they like to punish people for making mistakes--they love to gossip, they love to hate. Think about it. Think about all the people you hate.

taperjeangirl April 19th, 2009 07:18PM  
Notice how at the end, he says, "For a minute there, I lost myself,". He simply lost himself by saying mean things about the man and the girl. Karma, is coming back to get him for ugly remarks. It's a simple meaning, really, not complicated.

delirium October 9th, 2009 11:15PM  
i dont know why but for some reason i think this song is bout the gruesome "The Moors murder" took place in UK ages ago. specially the parts where he goes "her hitler hairdo" reminds me of Myra Hindley's blonde hair she bleached to look like a nazi woman. and "karma police" refers to the fact that they were busted by someone who they thought was an accomplice in the last murder they did. "this is what u get" i dont think this is what karma police is really bout but it some how fits so perfectly to the moors murder story.