MORNING BELL

'"Morning Bell'" is the ninth track on the Radiohead album ''Kid A'' (2000), also found in another version on ''Amnesiac'' (2001).

Contents

Two versions

The song

Trivia

References

Two versions

According to Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, the song went through many stages, and the ''Amnesiac'' version was actually the first to be written, before being "lost" and then suddenly remembered again, leading to the other version. Both versions were committed to tape during the same period of recording sessions in 1999–2000 (along with the rest of the material on both albums). However, the ''Kid A'' version was released first and is better known. It also forms the basis for the song's live performances.
Driven by electric piano chords played on a Rhodes, "Morning Bell" as it appears on ''Kid A'' is in a 5/4 time signature, with the fifth ('extra', as it were) beat filled in with a drum roll. A programmed drum machine is used in the album version, but in live concerts the tense pattern is played by drummer Phil Selway.
In contrast, the ''Amnesiac'' version (officially identified as "Morning Bell/Amnesiac") is based in common time, features desolate acoustic orchestration (including organ) and no audible percussion. This version is also one minute and fifteen seconds shorter and lacks the climactic ending, however, the rest of the lyrics are unchanged.
The band has described ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac'' as two very distinct albums, although products of the same recording sessions, with "Morning Bell" providing an intentional link.

The song

Thom Yorke, who wrote the song, said in an interview that the lyrics were 'extremely violent'^[1]. The song contains lines like 'cut the kids in half', in contrast to its quiet yet hypnotic melody. Allegedly benefiting from the Dada method of cut-up poetry, "Morning Bell" has been taken as a typical example of Radiohead's cryptic style on ''Kid A'', privileging atmosphere and sound over literal sense.[1] However, many view it as a song "about divorce", a theory explicitly supported by Yorke in some comments made at live concerts, though seemingly not in others. He has also said "Morning Bell" is about ghosts (literally). Some have even viewed it a vague critique of globalization, along with other songs on the album.
Whatever the song's meaning, "Cut the kids in half" may be a reference to a scenario from the Bible in which two women are fighting over custody of a baby and the wise King Solomon is asked to adjudicate. He proposes a fair solution: that the child be cut in two and one half be given to each woman. Shocked by the cold logic of such a proposal, the real mother attempts to save her baby's life by saying she would rather have the baby be alive with the other woman than be cut in half. King Solomon sees that she is the real mother and gives her her baby.
When asked about the relationship, if any, between ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac'', Yorke described the albums themselves as "twins, separated at birth."

Trivia

★ "Morning Bell" has been covered by ?uestlove of hip-hop collective The Roots. His smooth version appeared on a 2006 tribute compilation. A modern jazz version also appears on Chris Potter's 2006 release, Underground. Furthermore, the song has also been covered on numerous occasions by bluegrass musician and former Nickel Creek frontman Chris Thile.

★ On ''Kid A'' the song is linked to the previous song "Idioteque" by a transition. The sampled electronic sounds of "Idioteque" continue as they are absorbed into the beat of "Morning Bell." Co-producer Nigel Godrich often makes use of such effects with Radiohead and others.

References

1. Green Plastic.com

Chris Thile's cover on the Woodsongs radio show