AIRBAG (4:44) Song info In the next world war
In a jackknifed juggernaut
I am born again
In the neon sign
Scrolling up and down
I am born again
In an interstellar burst
I am back to save the universe
In a deep deep sleep of the innocent
I am born again
In a fast german car
I'm amazed that I survived
An airbag saved my life
In an interstellar burst
I am back to save the universe
In an interstellar burst
I am back to save the universe
Back to Radiohead Lyrics.
Back to Follow Me Around.Available on: OK Computer, Airbag / How Am I Driving EP (US)
Other Versions: early version - available on: various bootlegs. see here.
Originally titled "An Airbag Saved My Life", a headline that Thom read in an Automobile Association manual that came in the mail, the song is "about the wonderful, positive emotion you feel when you've just failed to have an accident; when you just miss someone and realize how close it was and stop the car and just feel this incredible emotion" (Sutherland, "Return"). The title is also a play on the 1983 Indeep song "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life". [Radiohead: From a Great Height]The original title was a headline that Thom read in the British road safety magazine (AA). Thom is known to have fears about the potential hazards of driving.
The song reflects the band's DJ Shadow influence, as the band made the track with a drum loop based on a three-second sample of Phil's druming.
Colin: We wanted an opener like 'Planet Telex' on 'The Bends' : A song that is completely different than all other songs on the album. 'Airbag' swings because Phil dances to drum & bass each weekend.
Phil: DJ Shadow has inspired me.. how that man pastes rhythms to each other. The end result sounds a lot different than we intended by the way.
Colin: That's not the first time: We wanted 'Creep' to sound like Scott Walker. That too failed.
Ed: The song was first called 'Last night an airbag saved my life' as in 'Last night a dj saved my life'.
Thom: Researchers are claiming that airbags sometimes open spontaneously. Think about that when you're driving around in your Mercedes.
Colin: Airbags are dangerous things. They're lethal.
Ed: What would you know? You don't even have a licence.