Don't
Forget
That you are our son
Now
Go back to bed

We just know
That you are ours
You won't cry
Too hard

Death
To all
Who stand in your way
My arm, you


Lyrics submitted by Vache, edited by sleepfornow, Dani990

Melatonin Lyrics as written by Thomas Edward Yorke

Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Melatonin song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

15 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    The lyrics evoke an image of childhood. Specifically, childhood at bedtime... the sleeplessness of youth when forced to go to bed early.

    It's the parents' voice that we hear, and we are meant to listen to them as their child.

    Obviously, these parents are a little sinister. They say things that your parents probably didn't: "death to all who stand in your way".

    Thom is seeing a bit of oppression in the way parents treat their children in the way that they regulate their child's sleep patterns (occasionally, and probably in this case, they use drugs like melatonin).

    For me, it's about fanaticism. Specifically, the blind fanaticism of a parent's love for a child. Thom sees something sinister in this relationship. (Personally, I agree with him. Parents often do fucked up things for a child's "own good.")

    jfugelsoon September 24, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It's like a fucked-up lullaby.

    taviangoon July 31, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Probably the most underrated Radiohead song around. This one really cheers me up. The texture of it is sort of like a song version of the drug Melatonin....if that makes sense.

    I have trouble sleeping, take melatonin, and this song sorta just sits right with me. Like if I faded off the face of the Earth, this song would play...

    Yeah, I'm gonna keep on ramblin', ramblers...

    El Teaon December 30, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the lyrics here are wrong

    the correct lyrics are: Don't forget that you are our son Now go back to bed

    We just know that you'll do well You won't come to harm

    Death to all who stand in your way Wake, my dear

    oppositionbunnyon January 25, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Look what I found: songmeanings.net/lyric.php

    It's a page all about Just. In case you haven't noticed this page is about Melatonin.

    Wallamanageon September 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me this song is about being sort of lost and nobody knows who you are, they just sort of accept you even though you don't want to be accepted... I don't know I may be way off... "Don't forget that you are our son Now go back to bed" is like they are reminding him who he is, and when he questions it they answer with: "We just know that you are ours, You won't cry too hard" and then finally even though he doesn't want to be theirs: "Death to all who stand in your way Wave my arms [at] you" can be seen as them threatening him when he tries to prove he isn't theirs... I may be WAY WAY off, but that's how I see it.

    On a different note, anybody know what the guy was saying in the end of the video for "Just"?

    kaisuteon June 30, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is haunting

    and Kaisute Radiohead have sworn to take what ever the guy at the end of Just is saying to the grave

    kid Aon April 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Melatonin is a great sleeping aid :"Don't forget that you are our son Now go back to bed" ....My friend takes way too much of this stuff and it makes him horribly depressed "You won't cry too hard"... yes haunting

    Evilgirlon July 04, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    evilgirl's right. there was also this craze like five or six years ago when everybody was saying that taking melatonin would seriously turn your biological clock back. it would make you young again. my parents were really into it. but that whole thing just kind of faded out, i guess.

    jaz40on May 13, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    evilgirl's right. there was also this craze like five or six years ago when everybody was saying that taking melatonin would seriously turn your biological clock back. it would make you young again. my parents were really into it. but that whole thing just kind of faded out, i guess.

    jaz40on May 13, 2004   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!