Poetry of Rock n' Roll: "Dawn Chorus" by Thom Yorke

To observe National Poetry Month, once a week I am featuring lyrics of rock n' roll (or post-rock n' roll) or pop songs that also double as exquisite poetry. For the first song lyric post last week (here), we looked at beautiful, profound lyrics from a Radiohead song called "Daydreaming" where I said no one can kill me (emotionally speaking of course) like Thom Yorke and Radiohead can. Their music and lyrics often speak to a deep part of myself and how I see the universe.

So this song from Thom Yorke's 2019 solo release called "Anima" really hits home for me. Like "Daydreaming," this song "Dawn Chorus" is also infused with a sense of sadness, wistfulness, regret, and a cosmic weariness. But it goes further, to "that" place for me...

The title refers to the start of the day when birds wake and begin to sing. But it also brings to mind that classic tune--the third section of the William Tell Overture by Rossini called "Ranz de Vaches" which is a type of Swiss melody, traditionally played on the Alpenhorn in order to summon cattle--used during cartoon and film sunrises...played so often as the soundtrack to a sunrise that it has become a cliché. The ridiculous, Polyanna sense now associated with this tune speaks to a vapid perspective, akin to toxic positivity. It is this idealized and unreal sense of looking at the world that Yorke pushes against in the lyrics. Basically, when you tire of pretending the world is a beautiful bouquet of sunshine, then you can perceive reality. You will be able to see what is important in this world. You will be able to live authentically, without regrets.

Dawn Chorus
by Thom Yorke

Back up the cul-de-sac
Come on, do your worst
You quit your job again
And your train of thought

If you could do it all again
A little fairy dust
A thousand tiny birds singing
If you must, you must

Please let me know
When you've had enough
Of the white light
Of the dawn chorus

If you could do it all again
You don't know how much
Pronto pronto, moshi mosh
Come on, chop chop

If you could do it all again
Yeah, without a second thought
I don't like leaving
The door shut

I think I missed something
But I'm not sure what
In the middle of the vortex
The wind picked up

Shook up the soot
From the chimney pot
Into spiral patterns
Of you, my love

You take a little piece
Then you break it off
It's a bloody racket
It's the dawn chorus

If you could do it all again
Big deal, so what?
Please let me know
When you've had enough

It's the last chance
O.K. Corral
If you could do it all again
This time with style

Thom Yorke, October 2020 by Luca Carlino/NurPhoto via Getty Images

https://www.radiohead.com/