Songs → A Reminder
B-side from Paranoid Android, recorded during the same sessions as OK Computer. Appears on the MiniDiscs in the form of multiple rough Thom solo demos and mixes of the final studio recording.
Recording Chronology
Older Recordings
May - July 1996: Ideas + Rehearsals
Winter 1997: Mixing Sessions
- A Reminder {MD128 take 1}
- A Reminder {MD128 take 2}
- A Reminder {MD128 take 3}
- A Reminder {MD128 take 4}
- A Reminder {MD128 take 5}
- A Reminder {MD128 take 6}
- A Reminder {MD128 take 7}
- A Reminder {MD125}
- A Reminder {MD126}
Recordings → Play Me This Song
Rough demo. Thom solo guitar and vocals. This is a monophonic recording that was dubbed to MiniDisc, likely from a dictaphone or similar cassette-based source. The song fades out at the end.
Assumed to predate the MiniDiscs, although it is possible that Thom used a cassette recorder available as a backup in case the MiniDisc was out of batteries or out of blank discs.
Discs → MD119 → Play Me This Song <aka A Reminder>
Transcription
[?] / [?] away / I have seen [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] / Don't get scared / [?] / [?]
Recordings → A Reminder {MD119}
A rough demo, Thom solo guitar and vocals. The lyrics have been completely rewritten from the previous recording.
Discs → MD119 → A Reminder {MD119} †
Transcription
If I get old / I will not give in / And if I do / Remind me of this / Remind me that / Once I was free / Once I was quick / Once I was lean / And if I sit down / And cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out / Smash out my brains / If I take a chair / And start to talk shit / When I get old / Remind me of this / The way that we kissed / And that I really meant it / Whatever happens / If we're still speaking / Pick up the phone / Play me this song
Recordings → A Reminder {MD128 take 1}
A vocal-only rough demo. Recorded outdoors on a mountain in windy conditions.
Discs → MD128 → A Reminder {MD128 take 1} †
Transcription
(Hello. It's working.) / (I'm gonna go away.) / (Yeah.) / (The whole mountain's yours.) / (Don't go down there, Thom, please. I'm not coming for you.) / (Oh, shit no, right.) / (Just over there, well.) / (I want to go in the big bit, in the wind.) / (Over there?) / (Yeah.) / (Ha.) / If I get old I will not give in / And if I do remind me of this / Remind me that once I was free / Once I was clear, once I was lean / And if I sit down and cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out, smash out my brains / If I take the check and start to talk shit / If I get old I will not give in / If I get old remind me of this / If I get old remind me of this / The way that we kissed when I really meant it / Whatever happens if we're still speaking / Pick up the phone, play me this song
Recordings → A Reminder {MD128 take 2}
A vocal-only rough demo. Recorded outdoors on a mountain in windy conditions.
Discs → MD128 → A Reminder {MD128 take 2} †
Transcription
(One, two. One, two) / If I get old I will not give in / And if I do remind me of this / Remind me that once I was free / Once I was clear, once I was lean / And if I sit down and cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out, smash out my brains / If I take the check and start to talk shit / If I get old remind me of this / The way that we kissed and that I really meant it / Whatever happens if we're still speaking / Pick up the phone, play me this song / (Hello.)
Recordings → A Reminder {MD128 take 3}
A vocal-only rough demo. Recorded outdoors on a mountain in windy conditions. Recording cuts off abruptly at the end.
Discs → MD128 → A Reminder {MD128 take 3} †
Transcription
If I get old I will not give in / And if I do remind me of this / Remind me that once I was free / Once I was clear, once I was lean / And if I sit down and cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out, smash out my brains / If I take the check and start to talk shit / If I get old I will not / If I get old remind me--
Recordings → A Reminder {MD128 take 4}
A vocal-only rough demo. Not the full song, this appears to have been recorded over the ending of the previous take and is intended as a continuation. Recorded outdoors on a mountain in windy conditions. Recording cuts off abruptly.
Discs → MD128 → A Reminder {MD128 take 4} †
Transcription
If I get old remind me of this / The way that we kissed and that I really meant it / Whatever happens if we're still--
Recordings → A Reminder {MD128 take 5}
A vocal-only rough demo. Not the full song, this appears to have been recorded over the ending of the previous take and is intended as a continuation of the previous 2 takes. Recorded outdoors on a mountain in windy conditions. Recording cuts off abruptly.
Discs → MD128 → A Reminder {MD128 take 5} †
Transcription
Whatever happens if we're--
Recordings → A Reminder {MD128 take 6}
A vocal-only rough demo. Includes most of the song, but Thom stops before the end. Recorded outdoors near a stream.
Discs → MD128 → A Reminder {MD128 take 6} †
Transcription
If I get old I will not give in / And if I do remind me of this / Remind me that once I was free / Once I was clear, once I was lean / And if I sit down and cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out, smash out my brains / If I take the check and start to talk shit
Recordings → A Reminder {MD128 take 7}
A vocal-only rough demo. Recording cuts off before the end of the song. Recorded outdoors near a stream.
Discs → MD128 → A Reminder {MD128 take 7} †
Transcription
If I get old I will not give in / And if I do remind me of this / Remind me that once I was free / Once I was clear, once I was lean / And if I sit down and cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out, smash out my brains / If I take the check and start to talk shit / If I get old remind me of this / The way that we kissed and that I really meant it / Whatever happens if we're still speaking
Recordings → A Reminder {MD125}
Studio mix. Sounds the same or very close to the final released version, but the dynamic range is highly compressed.
Discs → MD125 → A Reminder {MD125} * <finished mix with extra compression?>
Transcription
If I get old I will not give in / But if I do remind me of this / Remind me that once I was free / Once I was clear, once I was lean / And if I sit down and cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out, smash out my brains / If I take the check and start to talk shit / If I get old remind me of this / The way that we kissed when I really meant it / Whatever happens if we're still speaking / Pick up the phone, play me this song /
Recordings → A Reminder {MD126}
Studio mix. Sounds the same or similar to the the final released version.
Discs → MD126 → A Reminder {MD126} † <finished mix · released on Paranoid Android>
Transcription
If I get old I will not give in / But if I do remind me of this / Remind me that once I was free / Once I was clear, once I was lean / And if I sit down and cross my arms / Hold me to this song / Knock me out, smash out my brains / If I take the check and start to talk shit / If I get old remind me of this / The way that we kissed when I really meant it / Whatever happens if we're still speaking / Pick up the phone, play me this song