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Radiohead – The Thief (2015) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Radiohead
The Thief

TRACK

The Thief

Release date: 28th April 2015

Spotify More on Radiohead

About This Track

"The Thief" is a track by Radiohead, released 28th April 2015. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 16 articles about Radiohead.

About the Artist

Radiohead

Radiohead

Lyrics

The Thief

Why must I be the thief?

Why must I be the thief?

Oh Lord please won't you tell me

Why must I be the thief

Why must I be the thief

He said to the hanging man

And how come you're the only one

That's better off, and always stares

Why must I be the thief

He asked of the hanging man

And how come you're the only one

Who gives me an open hand

Why must I be the thief

He cursed and then he cried

And the hanging man held out his hand

And looked beyond the sky

The thief that climbed the cross

"We should have shared that other's fate."

But the Jesus man said "Not now"

"My brother, not now, it's far too late!"

(far too late) (7x)

Do what you must

Take what you can

Steal the pride from every heart

Every angered man (3x)

I am the thief

I am the thief

And you will run

Yes and you will hide

But I'll get you then

Yes I will

Because of you, because it's justified

I will get you yet

Cause it's justified

I will get you yet

It's justified

I will get you yet

It's justified

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

The Thief

2015

Listen

Release year

2015

More from Radiohead

Albums & EPs

Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Live In Chicago - June 1993

Crippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

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Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien has released ‘Incantations’, the eight-minute psych-folk opener from his new album

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2023

Big Day Out: Irish Broadcast 1996

KID A MNESIA

OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017

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Where I End and You Begin (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

We Suck Young Blood (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Sail To The Moon (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Sit Down. Stand Up (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Myxomatosis (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

I Will (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Go To Sleep (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

2 + 2 = 5 (Live)Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)

Everything In Its Right Place (Reinier Zonneveld Remix) [Mixed]

Let down (version 9.1 minidisc casset)

Everything In Its Right Place (Gigamesh Disco-Tech Remix) [Mixed]

Prove YourselfLive In Chicago - June 1993

Faithless The Wonder BoyLive In Chicago - June 1993

Stop WhisperingLive In Chicago - June 1993

How Do You Do?Live In Chicago - June 1993

IntroCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

YouCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

Prove YourselfCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

The BendsCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

Pop Is DeadCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

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Anyone Can Play GuitarLive In Chicago - June 1993

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CreepLive In Chicago - June 1993

CreepCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

JustCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

MaquiladoraCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

My Iron LungCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

RipcordLive In Chicago - June 1993

RipcordCrippled And Cracked: Live At Roskilde, Denmark, 2nd July 1994

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The BendsLive In Chicago - June 1993

VegetableLive In Chicago - June 1993

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View all tracks by Radiohead →

News

Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien has released ‘Incantations’, the eight-minute psych-folk opener from his new album

It follows the previously shared title-track, which drew on themes of nature's restorative power.

22 Apr 2026 • 11:25 pm

Ed O’Brien has revealed a series of ‘An Evening With… Blue Morpho’ dates, including London’s Barbican

Ed O’Brien has revealed a series of ‘An Evening With… Blue Morpho’ dates, including London’s Barbican

The live shows will feature Dave Okumu and ESKA alongside the Radiohead guitarist.

1 Apr 2026 • 3:06 pm

Ed O'Brien announces new album 'Blue Morpho'

Ed O'Brien announces new album 'Blue Morpho'

The Radiohead guitarist has shared the title track from his Paul Epworth-produced record.

17 Mar 2026 • 12:06 pm

Ed O'Brien confirms Radiohead have plans to tour again from 2027

Ed O'Brien confirms Radiohead have plans to tour again from 2027

The band will play 20 shows per year across different continents

17 Mar 2026 • 8:55 am

Radiohead announce 20 European shows across Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen and Berlin

Radiohead announce 20 European shows across Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen and Berlin

Advance registration required to combat resellers; ticket sales open 12th September.

4 Sept 2025 • 8:35 am

Radiohead announce live album 'Hail to the Thief Live Recordings 2003-2009' and share 'There, There' performance

Radiohead announce live album 'Hail to the Thief Live Recordings 2003-2009' and share 'There, There' performance

Limited red and cyan vinyl variants arrive alongside a museum art exhibition.

13 Aug 2025 • 5:19 pm

Check out the first rehearsal photos from the new Radiohead-featuring theatrical adaption of Hamlet, 'Hamlet Hail To The Thief'

Check out the first rehearsal photos from the new Radiohead-featuring theatrical adaption of Hamlet, 'Hamlet Hail To The Thief'

A new theatrical adaptation of Hamlet featuring Radiohead's 'Hail to the Thief' album will premiere in Manchester before moving to Stratford-upon-Avon.

3 Apr 2025 • 8:30 am

Radiohead's management seemingly confirms the band will play shows later this year... via an auction listing?

Radiohead's management seemingly confirms the band will play shows later this year... via an auction listing?

Management confirms Radiohead's live return through auction tickets and hints at European residency shows planned for autumn 2025.

18 Mar 2025 • 6:18 pm

Radiohead have shared a playlist of 'The Bends' B-sides to mark the album's 30th anniversary

Radiohead have shared a playlist of 'The Bends' B-sides to mark the album's 30th anniversary

The playlist release follows the band sharing previously unseen footage of Thom Yorke performing solo at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern on 28th March 1995.

17 Mar 2025 • 5:48 pm

Radiohead's members have formed a new business entity, inevitably sparking speculation they're about to do 'stuff'

Radiohead's members have formed a new business entity, inevitably sparking speculation they're about to do 'stuff'

Radiohead's members establish new business partnership RHEUK LLP, following their pattern of creating companies before releasing albums or touring.

13 Mar 2025 • 6:43 pm

When robots learned to cry: decoding the genius of Radiohead's 'Kid A'

When robots learned to cry: decoding the genius of Radiohead's 'Kid A'

With ‘Kid A,’ Radiohead tossed aside their guitar anthems and conjured a futuristic soundscape beamed in from another dimension, creating an audacious, bewildering masterpiece that redefined modern music.

7 Aug 2024 • 7:00 pm

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Radiohead are talking about getting back together for new material in the “next couple of years”

The group's last album, 'A Moon Shaped Pool', was released in 2016, so new material is long overdue.

20 Mar 2023 • 11:31 am

Radiohead are planning to “get together” in early 2023

Radiohead are planning to “get together” in early 2023

"We’re going to get together at the start of [2023], and I’m sure we’re going to start looking at other ideas for what comes next."

9 Jan 2023 • 10:04 am

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's new band The Smile have released their (sort of) new track, 'Skirting On The Surface'

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's new band The Smile have released their (sort of) new track, 'Skirting On The Surface'

The song was originally performed by Radiohead a few times during their The King of Limbs era.

17 Mar 2022 • 4:17 pm

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's new band The Smile are dropping a (sort of) new track, 'Skirting On The Surface'

The song was originally performed by Radiohead a few times during their The King of Limbs era.

16 Mar 2022 • 5:50 pm

Radiohead side-project The Smile have revealed details of a new pressing for their first two tracks

Radiohead side-project The Smile have revealed details of a new pressing for their first two tracks

To get hold of a copy, fans will need to pick up a free lottery ticket at selected record stores.

11 Mar 2022 • 9:21 am

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Holger Czukay, Irmin Schmidt, Jaki Liebezeit, Malcolm Mooney, Michael Karoli