"2+2=5" by Radiohead

- What is the song talking about lyrically?
The lyrics are saying that if you ignore what's going on/you don't pay attention or act up, others will take control, and you won't be able to change anything.

- How does the music mirror or help push the message?
At first, the voice is very muffled and blurry. You can't really tell what he's saying. This reflects the idea of not speaking up and not paying attention. Then when the singer says "pay attention" it's a lot stronger and it sounds almost panicked. This shows the urgency to realize what's going on before it's too late. It also emphasizes his desperation to convince people to pay attention.

- The title is an allusion to 1984. Explain the connection.
In the story, Winston Smith talks about how in his society nobody thinks for themselves and they follow whatever the government says. So, if the government says that 2+2=5, everyone would believe it. In the song, the the singer is trying to get everyone to pay attention so that they don't reach a society where if the government says 2+2=5 they believe it.