Bones

The song Bones, clocking in at just over three minutes, delves into Thom Yorke's personal anxieties, exploring the fear of physical frailty and aging. It appears to reflect the demands of constant touring life, a manifestation of the tribulations that accompany life on stage. The idea of an extended ending, which Jonny Greenwood took from The Fall, was explored in early recordings, though the final version focused on a more concise structure.

This track was conceived during the sessions for the album The Bends, released in March 1995. The recording process, which began in February 1994 at London’s RAK Studios, was marked by a tense atmosphere. The label Parlophone was pressing to match the success of the single Creep, and progress was slow. After an international tour in May and June, work resumed at other iconic studios like Abbey Road and The Manor. It was on this album where Nigel Godrich and visual artist Stanley Donwood began their long-standing collaboration with the band. The album’s production was handled by John Leckie, with additional contributions from Radiohead, Nigel Godrich, and Jim Warren. The recording engineering involved a team that included Chris Brown, Nigel Godrich, John Leckie, Guy Massey, Shelley Saunders, and Jim Warren, while the mixing process featured the participation of Paul Q. Kolderie, John Leckie, Radiohead, and Sean Slade.