Sunday Sermonette: Thom Yorke of Radiohead on suicide of David Kelly

Radiohead's Thom Yorke has written a song about the suicide of British WMD expert Dr. David Kelly. Yorke describes the song as angriest he's ever written.

Radiohead's Thom Yorke has said a track on his solo album about the suicide of scientist Dr David Kelly is "the most angry song I've ever written".

He said he was uncomfortable discussing Harrowdown Hill out of respect for the "grieving" family of Dr Kelly, whose death led to a government inquiry.

Yorke said sleep deprivation on a world tour had left him feeling "messed up".

The song Harrowdown Hill was named after the location in Oxfordshire where Dr Kelly's body was found in 2003.

He had been identified as the source of a controversial BBC story about a British dossier on whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

"I'm sure they're still grieving over his death," Yorke said, referring to the scientist's family.

"It's the most angry song I've ever written in my life. I'm not gonna get into the background to it, the way I see it. [BBC]

Nathaniel at I Guess I'm Floating has the Harrowdown Hill lyrics.

Comments

[1984 Was Not a Shopping List]

Up on Harrowdown Hill, Where you used to go school
That's where I - That's where I'm lying now
Did I fall or was I pushed? Did I fall or was I pushed?
And where's the blood? Where's the blood?
But I'm coming home, I'm coming home to make it alright so dry your eyes
We think the same things at the same time, we just can't do anything about it
We think the same things at the same time, we just can't do anything about it

So don't ask me, ask the Ministry
Don't ask me, ask the Ministry

- Thom Yorke

On top of the world
Looking over the edge
You could see them coming
You looked too small
In their big black car
To be a threat to the men in power
I hid my yo-yo
In the garden
I can't hide you
From the government
Oh God Daddy
I won't forget

- Kate Bush

[Account Deleted]

A word also about the Colin MacIntyre/Mull Historical Society track 'Death of a Scientist', which is also about Kelly's suicide. It's full of anger and sadness. Lyrics here (scroll down a bit):

http://www.mullhistoricalsociety.com/html/lyrics_from_tih.html

[Uncle Kvetch]

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