The story behind
Radiohead recorded "Street Spirit" in 1994, as part of the album The Bends. The song was released as a single in 1996, and since then it has become one of the most important in their repertoire. The lyrics are inspired by a novel by Ben Okri, and the sound reminds one of R.E.M. with a mix of post-grunge and psychedelia. The video, made in black and white, does not follow a story, but shows images ranging from the absurd to the profound. Jonathan Glazer, its director, described it as a turning point in his career. The editing and lighting give it a dark touch that complements the song's message. It is a piece that is frequently played live, and its rhythm and atmosphere make it unique. ↓ Skip to chordsIntro 1
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
Verse 1
Am
Em7
Am
Chorus 1
C Em7 Am
C Em7
Verse 2
Am
Am
Em7
Am
Chorus 2
C Em7 Am
C Em7 Am
Interlude 1
C Em7 Am Am
C Em7
Verse 3
Am
Am
Em7
Am
Chorus 3
C Em7 Am
C Em7 Am
Interlude 2
C Em7 Am Am
C Em7 Am Am
Outro 1
G6 Em7 Am
G6 E7 Am
Intro 1
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
A5 Asus4 Am Asus2
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Verse 1
Am
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|-----------------------------2----| A|---2------------------------------| E|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Am
E|----0--------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|--------3--------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|------0---0----0---0---0---0----0-|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|------------------------------2---|---2-------------------------2----| A|---2------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| E|-0--------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Chorus 1
C Em7
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|-----------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-3--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Am
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
C
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|---2-------------------------2----|-----------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------|-3--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|---2-------------------------2----| A|----------------------------------| E|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Verse 2
Am
Am
Em7
Am
Chorus 2
C Em7 Am
C Em7 Am
Interlude 1
C Em7
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|-----------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-3--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Am Am
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
C Em7
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|-----------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-3--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Verse 3
Am
Am
Em7
Am
Chorus 3
C Em7 Am
C Em7 Am
Interlude 2
C Em7
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|-----------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-3--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Am Am
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
C Em7
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|-----------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-3--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Am Am
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Outro 1
G6 Em7 E
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|-------0---0---0---0---0---1---1--| D|---0-------------------------0----|---2-------------------------2----| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|-3--------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Am
E|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----| A|-0--------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
G6
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--|-------0---0---0---0---0---0---0--| D|---2-------------------------2----|---0-------------------------0----| A|-0--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-3--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
E7 Am
E|-----0-------0-------0------------|-----0-------0-------0------------| B|---------3-------1-------0--------|---------3-------1-------0--------| G|-------1---1---1---1---1---1---1--|-------2---2---2---2---2---2---2--| D|---2-------------------------2----|---2-------------------------2----| A|----------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| E|-0--------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
From the album
The Bends
Radiohead · 1995 · Track 12