How come I end up where I started?
How come I end up where I went wrong?
I know those questions aren't exactly original thoughts or ideas. There is a lot of crossover in pop music and that's where the music comes in. These questions have been asked in jazz, rock, country, R&B, hip hop, emo, metal, blues, zydeco, and probably Bulgarian polka. The questions get asked in comedy, drama, mystery, and horror films.
I have no idea who asked them first or best, but I love the way Radiohead packaged them in "15 Step." I love that the first time we hear Thom Yorke's voice on In Rainbows, the first thing he says is "How come I end up where I started?" I love that the first song I listened to this morning begins with "How come I end up where I started?" That's fun in any language.
So how does Thom answer the question? He doesn't. The next lines are:
Won't take my eyes off the ball again
First you reel me out and then you cut the string
Ah, yes, the old Lucy Van Pelt special. I don't know if Thom is a fan of the ol' Peanuts gang, but I've seen that movie and I know what happens. So what does any of this have to do with the title "15 Steps?"
"15 steps, then a shoe drops."
15, eh? That's what we call a good day around here. If I can get 15 steps before the shoe drops, I've really accomplished something. Of course there are the days I hope the shoe drops a whole lot sooner because life starts feeling like one bother after another, and that's always fun, too.
So, let's recap:
How come I end up where I started?
How come I end up where I went wrong?
Won't take my eyes off the ball again
First you reel me out and then you cut the string
15 steps, then a shoe drops
Welcome to my morning. Good grief.
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