Up on the Ladder Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I'm stuck in the TARDIS
Trapped in hyperspace

One minute, snake charming
The next in a motorcade


[Verse 2]
All the right moves and
In the right places
Watch me dance, I'm a puppet
You can almost see the strings

[Verse 3]
Give me an answer
Give me a line
I've been climbing up this ladder
I've been wasting my time

[Chorus]
Up on the ladder we're all tied to a stake
Up on the ladder we wait for your mistake

Up on the ladder, try to call out your name
Up on the ladder you're all the fucking same

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About

Genius Annotation

The song ties in Radiohead’s obsessions with being trapped in space (or somewhere unknown), and compares it to living normal, middle class life (as with “No Surprises”, “Black Star”, etc.), lamenting society for how it is run.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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