Its more cynical than sad.

I don't find it depressing at all.

Oh, c'mon. The verses are in the low register of Thom's voice, and quiet, as if he was mumbling to himself phrases of desire and jealousy that can never be fulfilled. Then the vocal solo comes on, and Thom, or his character anyway, is crying at the top of his lungs because "she's running out the door" on him, because she can't accept him. There is no happy ending for this creep who doesn't belong, and that's what gets me sad over it.

That's just a bit of vague empathy and sympathy that you're feeling...I think Thom cares less about being a creep than you think he does.

The point is that the sentiment in Creep is laid on too thick for anyone to really take seriously. Song's about self-pity can be depressing...depending on who they're coming from and how it's presented...but I'd rarely call them "sad" songs...more "pitiful" than anything.

Are you saying Thom Yorke only started taking song-writing seriously after Pablo Honey? I think he takes Creep more seriously than YOU think he does. And it's not laid on too thick for me... it perfectly captures the emotions someone feels when they think they're inadequate in a woman's (and the world's) eyes, it doesn't make anything up.

I think the lyrics to Creep are some of the most depressing Radiohead lyrics mostly just because their so easy to relate to. I just find the tone of the song and the way it is put together makes it much less sad and more of just some typical 90's stuff like sweetnothing was saying.

This one comes to mind...



^I want that guitar

hmm. for me:

Peter Gabriel - I Grieve (it's hopeful as well, but still is pretty sad)
DeVotchKa - This Place is Haunted, How it Ends
B. Fleischmann - Static Grate, Gain, Phones and Machines, and Aldebaran Waltz. he makes electronic music but his stuff always sounds sad in some way
Pete Yorn - Lose You
David Gray - This Years Love
The Life of David Gale - Almost Martyrs
The Verve Pipe - The Freshman
Joshua Radin - Closer
Lamb - Gabriel
Sigur Rós - Biùm Biùm Bambalò

How do you know if that's actually sad or not?

It isn't really "sad" per se, a lot of their songs are really gentle and soft, but that song has a sad feel. If you mean the lyrics, here is the translation :

My little friend I lull to rest
But outside, a face looms at the window
When the mighty mountains
Fill your chest with burning desire,
I will play the langspil
and soothe your mind
My little friend I lull to rest
But outside, a face looms at the window
When the cruel storms rage
and the dark blizzard crouches above,
I shall light five candles
and drive away the winter shadows

the first 2 lines haven't been translated but those are most of the lyrics. I know it's also used in Iceland as a sort of lullaby