About This Track
The song’s title “2 + 2 = 5” recalls the symbol of unreality from George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the book, inhabitants of an authoritarian future state are made to engage in doublethink, replacing their own conscience and beliefs with those imposed from above. At the end of the novel, the protagonist’s individuality is demolished, as he avows that two and two are, in fact, five. The song contains similar inaccuracies including January bringing April showers.
With lyrics like “All hail to the thief, but I’m not” and “Don’t question my authority” there have been repeated suggestions from many musical critics that the song is based on the controversial election of George W. Bush in 2000. The band have strenuously denied this, saying in one interview, “It would be too easy for us to insult George Bush”.
The song reached number 15 on the UK singles chart.
The first part of the song is in a 7/4 time signature, which switches to 4/4 about 1 minute 22 seconds in (after the words “Two and two always makes five…”).
At the beginning of the song, the listener hears guitarist Jonny Greenwood plugging his guitar in, and lead vocalist Thom Yorke is heard saying “That’s a nice way to start, Jonny…”.
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Albums featuring this track
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Album Box Set
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Hail to the Thief (Unmastered Advance)
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2+2=5
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2004-05-01: Empire Polo Fields, Indio, CA, USA…
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Shouts
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indiegolfer 1984 <3 [4]
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rrrroberta paying attention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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hulla-baloo great
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hamlet666olsdal This is their final good song...since the rest of their songs bore me
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BlowBubble PAYING ATTEN- TION!
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chaosdrive YOU HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION PAYING ATTENTION PAYING ATTENTION
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HerrWolfenstein einfach guat ^^
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Plug_in_Guy 2+2=1984 Brilliant song
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Demon_Pracy That's a nice way to start, Jonny.
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gabystarlight 1984 <3 [3]
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SucioVagabundo I love the Big Brothe too Winston!
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UrHomie 1984 obviously
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Nakkinak five fingers, Winston
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nannybells 1984 <3 +1
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xRadioGaGa mózgojebne. ;o
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YwoytekY y,,,...eto dla tebia,,,,..,,,
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YwoytekY
O
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alameda_ TWOOOO AND TWOOOO ALWAYS MAAAKES A FIIIIIIIVE
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jamesusillxd 1984 <3 [2] Re-reading atm =]
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PlotniKK 1984 <3 [2]
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Phantomki11, BillyBndk, sobralambert and 21 other people loved Radiohead – 2+2=5. 4 hours ago
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