CUTTOOTH

Released:
August 2001
Disc: Knives Out single CD1
Length: 5:23

This is a strange one. Known and talked about within Radiohead camp for ages (numerous mentions in Ed's diary etc) no one had actually heard the track Cuttooth. Websites listed it as an unreleased track, rumours flew about. But fact is, though everyone had heard about it, no one had actually heard it, or knew anything. Then before the release of Amnesiac in 2001, a French radio station played a track called 'Hunting Bears'. Or that's what they called it. The track they played was actually not Hunting Bears at all. After the confusion was sorted out and people realised the radio station had actually played a new unreleased track that no one had ever heard of, the fans dubbed it 'Tongue-Tied', because of the lyrics.

It was later revealed by some inside sources that the track was actually called Cuttooth. And finally, it all made sense. The legendary Cuttooth track no one had ever heard had materialised, and the confusion ended. And it now features as a b-side on the Knives Out single CD1.

Cuttooth, much like Polyethylene Parts 1 & 2, and Talk Show Host, was one of those (many) b-sides Radiohead has made that really deserved more than b-side status. Unfortunately, it just didn't fit in with the work the band were doing at the time. It's one of my favourite ever Radiohead songs and it saddens me that only the single buying (or mp3 downloading) person will ever hear it. Yes.

I will leave the wallpaper life
And run away to the foreign legion
I would leave the wallpaper life
And run away to the foreign legion

And as the tanks roll into town
As the tanks roll into town

A little bit of knowledge will destroy you
A little bit of knowledge will destroy you

As the tanks roll into town
As the tanks roll into town

A little bit of knowledge will destroy you
A little bit of knowledge will destroy you

I don't know why I feel so tongue-tied
I don't know why I feel so skinned alive

Hold you till the arms are sore
Until you cannot feel it any more
Hold you till the arms are sore
Until you find an open door

I build up to pull you down
Tie you to your feet and watch you drown
A little bit of knowledge will destroy you
A little bit of knowledge will destroy you

I build up to pull you down
Tie you to the stake and watch you burn in hell
In hell

I don't know why I feel so tongue-tied
I don't know why I feel so skinned alive

I'll find another skin to wear
I'll find another skin to wear
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