Blame it on the black star
Blame it on the falling sky
Blame it on the satellite
That beams me home
–from “Black Star,” by Radiohead
Although I knew the song, “Creep,” from their debut album, “Pablo Honey,” from airplay, I really began listening to Radiohead with, “The Bends.” From then to now, I am hooked on their ethereal sounds and the way Thom Yorke uses his voice as another instrument. I feel an otherworldly energy plugged into the members of the group that interfaces between the two worlds. Although some of the songs’ lyrics are cryptic, “Black Star” seems pretty clear. There is a strain between two people in a relationship and they want, maybe need, to have something to blame it on other than each other. The agonizing by the narrating partner here is felt acutely, through lyrics and music. Listening to it, I can’t help but wonder what the other partner is going through. There is something that makes me root for them to work out their differences.
The Bends is the second studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on March 13, 1995. It was produced by John Leckie, with extra production by Radiohead, Nigel Godrich and Jim Warren. The band toured extensively for The Bends, including US tours supporting R.E.M. and Alanis Morissette.
Whereas Pablo Honey was mostly written by Yorke, The Bends saw greater collaboration. Previously, all three guitarists had often played identical parts, creating a “dense, fuzzy wall” of sound. Their Bends roles were more divided, with Yorke generally playing rhythm, Greenwood lead and Ed O’Brien providing effects.
Cover Art:
The Bends was the first Radiohead album with artwork by Stanley Donwood, who has worked with Yorke to create all of Radiohead’s artwork since. Donwood met Yorke while they were students at the University of Exeter, and previously created artwork for the My Iron Lung EP. For The Bends, Yorke and Donwood hired a cassette camera and filmed objects including road signs, packaging and street lights. They entered a hospital to film an iron lung, but, according to Donwood, found that iron lungs “are not very interesting to look at“. Instead, they filmed a CPR mannequin, which Donwood described as having “a facial expression like that of an android discovering for the first time the sensations of ecstasy and agony, simultaneously”. To create the cover image, the pair displayed the footage on a television set and photographed the screen.
There is a wealth of information out there on the album, “The Bends.”
Black Star
I get home from work
And you're still standing in your dressing gown
Well, what am I to do?
I know all the things around your head
And what they do to you
What are we coming to?
What are we gonna do?
Blame it on the black star
Blame it on the falling sky
Blame it on the satellite
That beams me home
Troubled words a troubled mind
I try to understand what is eating you
I try to stay awake, but it's 58 hours
Since that I last slept with you
What are we coming to?
I just don't know anymore
Blame it on the black star
Blame it on the falling sky
Blame it on the satellite
That beams me home
I get on the train and I just stand about
Now that I don't think of you
I keep falling over, I keep passing out
When I see a face like you
What am I coming to?
I'm gonna melt down
Blame it on the black star
Blame it on the falling sky
Blame it on the satellite
That beams me home
This is killing me
This is killing me
Written by:
Philip James Selway,
Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood,
Edward John O'brien,
Thomas Edward Yorke,
Colin Charles Greenwood
Album: The Bends
Released: 1995
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. Jim says:
This week the theme is to find a song that was released from a second album.
Tao Talk 
I love Radiohead. I actually had lyrics from one of their songs tattooed on me, but there was a typo, believe it or not. So I had them covered up. Videotape from In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead song ever.
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Geeked that you are a fan of their music. Oh no on the tattoo. What’s the lyric and what’s the typo? I just listened to Videotape with the lyrics and it’s such an intimate portrait.
I love their music and their videos. Some are strange and wonderful. Here is one of my favorites, where Thom has me totally mesmerized with his movements: https://youtu.be/cfOa1a8hYP8?si=pjDLmS9wikzkdaYy
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The entire album In Rainbows is really great.
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Lisa, thanks for going with this song; it’s a great piece and you’re so right about Yorke’s voice.
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So glad you like the song and recognize Yorke’s talent, Nancy.
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What a song what a band. Excellent write up. So refreshing to hear someone talking about this music as if it’s fresh you make it sound really vital. Which it is. You’ve not booked it down with a load of music nerdary. Which almost always happens when people talk about this band.
Radiohead loom large in my legend. I can’t hear The Bends. Without thinking of my second year of college. My Radiohead obsessed good friend Wayne. The festivals we saw them play. The bootleg cassette he bought on the market. And the night we saw them play the Astoria. Mssed the last train home and had an almost cinema worthy night of adventures in the big city,
This album is so evocative of that time I found it hard to listen to since he died. But when I do, I’m reminded what a world class gold star record it is.
Thanks for bringing it back to me today. I think I’ll give it a spin.
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Steve, your comment is the first thing I have read today. Talk about setting a tone :) I hear you on music nerdery and how it “books down” (hadn’t heard that expression before; it’s a good one) the beauty of it. When I see the charts stats I think of the “begets” in The Bible and tune right out. When I was looking for info on them at wiki it felt like looking at a star map with all of those embedded links. I just read through and found some interesting tidbits. The way they did that album cover was fascinating and so creative!
“Radiohead loom large in my legend.” Very much appreciate reading of your associations with the band. Knowing you’ve seen them live multiple times makes me envious. Just looked up the Astoria. What a perfect place to hear an intimate concert with. They tore the place down in 2009. F*CKERS. It’s like tearing down a shrine.
My condolences on losing your friend. {{{HUGS}}}
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Thanks for playing this. The Bends is a great album, and accompanied me many times in my long car commute for work.
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You’re welcome, Clive. It’s a beauty and I’m sure made great company for you on your commute.
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Wonderful choice Li. I love the moodiness of this song and yes, he does use his voice as an instrument. Thanks for choosing Radiohead! 🥰
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So glad you enjoyed this tune, Christine. It’s one of my favorites (among many) of theirs. You are welcome!
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I am a radio only fan of Radiohead- so this was new to me. I really enjoyed the lyric tho- and you did a great job of bringing me up to speed so I could really appreciate the song .
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V, Radiohead is worth doing a closer look on. Their music videos are quirky and awesome also. Thank you for the kind words.
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I have a few Radiohead albums but have never really picked up on the band. Maybe, like Violet, I’m more of a radio-only fan, but I enjoyed this song and the explanation of it. Thanks!
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Steve, I think you’d like them if you had a chance to look closer. The radio play stuff is pretty tame musically compared to other stuff. I think they may be too “far out” for radio (except for college stations, if they even have those anymore.) Happy you enjoyed this one. You are welcome.
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Come to think of it, I liked ‘OK Computer’ and would no doubt enjoy more of theirs if I listened again. A former colleague was really into them and tried to convert me about 15 years ago. “Far out” has often been a starting point for me so maybe I’m ready now 😉
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:) <3
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I don’t really know Radiohead very well, but I think this song might be about mental illness where one partner is going to work and the other one stays home all day in their dressing gown. I did like the sound of the singer’s voice, Lisa.
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Jim, your guess is a good one. Happy you like Yorke’s voice.
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I’m with you Li, love their work, still waiting for a new album – maybe one day.
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Paul, happy you are also a fan of their work. Yes, I would love to hear a new one. Just looked up that their last album was in 2009??? Doesn’t seem like it has been that long. Time flies! I know Jonny has been doing some movie soundtracks.
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Paul, check this out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smile_(band)
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Great choice, Li. I enjoyed the song and the story behind the cover art. I like the steps they took to pick the image for the cover.
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Marina, thanks much.
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An excutive 20 years ago got me into this band. I built a music server for him and he mentioned Radiohead songs so I got some for him. After that I could do no wrong lol.
I like the song and the album cover story. I know Creep as well probably the best.
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The bribe, er gift, of music. I love it. Radiohead has a million fantastic songs out there. Have you heard Karma Police? Check it out with the video of the guy running in front of a car at night.
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He was totally cool…Sean Cross…I still remember his name lol.
I just listened to it and watched the video which I loved…
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I love this one, Bends gets a bit overlooked as they’ve released so many great albums since.
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Graham, glad you know and love it, and agree with you about it getting overlooked.
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I have The Bends album but I’d forgotten how this song goes! Great choice Lisa
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Glyn, delighted to refresh your memory. Thanks on the choice.
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I remembered it a soon as I heard the intro Lisa
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Thom Yorke has one of those voices. Excellent choice today!
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Yes, he does <3 Thank you.
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Lisa woo! Such a great choice I love Radiohead.. and this song always moves me to tears 💜💜😮😮
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Willow, always happy to meet another Radiohead fan. I can see why it moves you to tears <3
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Such a great group 💜
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<3
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New one for me. I can only recall hearing ‘Creep’ before, though I might recognize others. That was interesting that they went to a hospital to tape photos of mannequins and things. Reminds me of the time my daughter and went up to her classroom at the hospital (nursing student at the time) at midnight. It was so creepy with all those practice patients there. :)
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Barbara, happy to introduce it to you. Oh I can imagine it would be creepy at midnight!
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I was introduced to Radiohead at my captioning job. We were doing the Bates Motel series and one of their songs came on. They were a late discovery for me, but I’ve loved them since!
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Stacey, I hope something unsavory wasn’t going on during the song. I have to admit that the moodiness of some of the songs might lend itself to such things. Glad you are a fan.
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No, not with that song. He was just at a party and feeling out of place, if I remember. Maybe saw a girl he liked. :)
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Doesn’t surprise me. You know how those creative types are.
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