My Iron Lung

About this song

The song is about Radiohead's earlier hit "Creep", from their first album Pablo Honey. The title draws on the iron lung, a mechanical respirator that used negative pressure to help people with paralysed lungs, most often from polio, breathe.

What it's about

The song portrays "Creep" as the thing keeping Radiohead successful and afloat, while also feeling confining, as if it forced them into playing one particular style. The iron lung comparison captures that mix of support and lack of freedom.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 3 other songs, like “Babies Are The Future by Kids & Explosion”.
• Covered 3 times, including “My Iron Lung by Vitamin String Quartet”.
• Written by Ed O’Brien, Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke and Philip Selway.
• Produced by John Leckie.
• Recorded at London Astoria.