My Iron Lung – English Lyrics

• By: Radiohead
• Album: The Bends

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Radiohead's "My Iron Lung," a powerful track that offers a window into the band's artistic struggle and growth. Through its biting lyrics and dynamic shifts, you can explore expressions of frustration and defiance in English. Its unique recording history and Thom Yorke's candid commentary make it a special piece for understanding authentic emotional expression in rock music.

[English]

Faith, you're driving me away

You do it everyday

You don't mean it

But it hurts like hell

My brain says I'm receiving pain

A lack of oxygen

From my life support

My iron lung

...

We're too young to fall asleep

Too cynical to speak

We are losing it

Can't you tell

The scratch

Our eternal itch

A twentieth century bitch

And we are grateful for

Our iron lung

...

The head shrinkers

They want everything

My uncle Bill

My Belisha beacon

The head shrinkers

They want everything

My uncle Bill

My Belisha beacon

...

Suck, suck your teenage thumb

Toilet-trained and dumb

When the power runs out

We'll just hum

This, this is our new song

Just like the last one

A total waste of time

My iron lung

...

The head shrinkers

They want everything

My uncle Bill

My Belisha beacon

The head shrinkers

They want everything

My uncle Bill

My Belisha beacon

...

And if you're frightened

You can be frightened

You can be, it's okay

And if you're frightened

You can be frightened

You can be, it's okay

The head shrinkers

They want everything

My uncle Bill

My Belisha beacon

The head shrinkers

They want everything

My uncle Bill

My Belisha beacon

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lung /lʌŋ/ A1	noun - an organ for breathing in humans and animals
iron /ˈaɪərn/ A1	adjective - made of or resembling iron noun - a strong, hard metallic element
cynical /ˈsɪnɪkəl/ B2	adjective - believing that people are motivated by self-interest
eternal /ɪˈtɜːrnal/ B1	adjective - lasting forever
itch /ɪtʃ/ A2	noun - an uncomfortable sensation on the skin verb - to have an uncomfortable sensation on the skin
grateful /ˈɡreɪtfəl/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing thanks
shrink /ʃrɪŋk/ B1	verb - to become smaller noun - a psychologist or psychiatrist
beacon /ˈbiːkən/ B2	noun - a light or fire to guide or warn
suck /sʌk/ A2	verb - to draw in through suction
dumb /dʌm/ A2	adjective - lacking intelligence or unable to speak
hum /hʌm/ A1	verb - to make a low, steady sound
waste /weɪst/ A2	noun - unwanted or unused material verb - to use or expend thoughtlessly
frightened /ˈfraɪtənd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety
support /səˈpɔːrt/ A2	noun - assistance or help verb - to provide assistance or help
oxygen /ˈɒksɪdʒən/ B1	noun - a chemical element necessary for respiration