Songs → Karma Police
Released on OK Computer. Can be heard in a few different forms across the MiniDiscs as the band works on developing the song's arrangement and Thom works on writing the final lyrics.
Recording Chronology
May - July 1996: Ideas + Rehearsals
July - August 1996: On Tour
Winter 1997: Mixing Sessions
Recordings → Karma Police {MD117}
Early band rehearsal. Very different, electric guitar-based arrangement.
Discs → MD117 → Karma Police {MD117}
Transcription
(Count me. [?]) / [?] / As if it bothers me that / You [?] / [?] / And I'm no good [?] / [?] / [?] / He wants to [?] / [?] / [?] / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / I never guessed it / But now it's all around / I want your suggestions / To climb [?] / [?] / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you mess with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me
Recordings → Karma Police 9.1
Alternate band arrangement. Busier drums, bass, organ, and some guitar. Lyrics are still far from their final form but beginning to find their direction. Not the full song, the band stops in the 2nd verse.
Discs → MD119 → <tape blip: rewinding Karma Police 9.1>
Transcription
{none}
Discs → MD119 → Karma Police 9.1
Transcription
Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes like a fridge / He smells of air conditioning / He's going to blame me / Running all around / He's going to persuade me / I never want to do it / Like you [?] / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / I stayed too long / I wait until [?] / To put me on / And never to belong / [?] / We just [?] / (Excuse me, Colin. That --)
Recordings → Karma Police 9.2
Another full-band version. More guitar than the previous recording, and the drum part is less intense but still has more going on than the final version. Recording is incomplete and consists of multiple excerpted clips.
Discs → MD119 → Karma Police 9.2 {part 1}
Transcription
{none}
Discs → MD119 → Karma Police 9.2 {part 2}
Transcription
We've just gone back [?] / Never do you know / [?] do one of those / [?] yourself / You're turning round in circles / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with me / This is what you get when you fuck with us
Discs → MD119 → Karma Police 9.2 {part 3}
Transcription
(Quite like that with the tom-toms.)
Recordings → Karma Police {MD120}
Rough demo, Thom solo guitar and vocals. Lyrics are still a bit different from their final form, but this version is much closer to the song's final form than the earlier full-band recordings.
Discs → MD120 → Karma Police {MD120} †
Transcription
Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes like a fridge / He's like a jumping record / Karma police / Arrest this girl / She stares at me / As if she owns the world / And we have crashed her party / This is what you get when you [?] / This is what you get when you [?] / This is what you get when you [?] / Karma police / We've given all we can / It's not enough / Our eyes don't sparkle anymore / A detuned radio / This is what you get when you [?] with us / This is what you get when you hang with us / This is what you get when you [?] with us / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself
Recordings → Karma Police (Mansfield)
Live performance, recorded on 14 August 1996.
Discs → MD121 → Karma Police (Mansfield)
Transcription
(-- you.) / Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes like a fridge / He's like a detuned radio / Karma police / Arrest this girl / She stares at me / As if she owns the world / And we have crashed her party / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with me / Karma police / I've given all I can / It's not enough / I've given all I can / But we're still on the payroll / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with me / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / (Thank you.) / (Cool.)
Recordings → Karma Police (East Rutherford)
Live performance, recorded on 19 August 1996. Recording is cut in two places.
Discs → MD121 → Karma Police (East Rutherford) {part 1} †
Transcription
{none}
Discs → MD121 → Karma Police (East Rutherford) {part 2} †
Transcription
Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes --
Discs → MD121 → Karma Police (East Rutherford) {part 3} †
Transcription
Smells of air conditioning / Karma police / Arrest this girl / She talks at me / As if she owns the world / And we have crashed her party / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with me / Karma police / I've given all I can / It's not enough / I've given all I can / But we're still on the payroll / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with me / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / (Thank you, you're very kind. Thanks very much.)
Recordings → Karma Police {MD122}
Live performance, recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → Karma Police {MD122}
Transcription
Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes like a fridge / He's like a detuned radio / Karma police / Arrest this girl / She stares at me / As if she owns the world / And we have crashed her party / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with me / Karma police / I've given all I can / It's not enough / I've given all I can / But we're still on the payroll and it's coming [?] / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with me / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / (Thanks a lot.)
Recordings → Karma Police (Pittsburgh)
Live performance. Recorded on 27 August 1996.
Discs → MD118 → Karma Police (Pittsburgh)
Transcription
Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes like a fridge / He's like a detuned radio / Karma police / Arrest this girl / Her Hitler hairdo / Is making me feel ill / And we have crashed the party / This is what you get / This is what you get / This is what you get when you fuck with us / Karma police / Arrest this man / I've given [?] / I've given all I can / But we're still on the payroll / This is what you get / This is what you get / This is what you get when you fuck with me / Phew, for a minute there / I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there / I lost myself, I lost myself / For a minute there / I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there / I lost myself, I lost myself /
Recordings → Karma Police {MD125}
Studio mix. Similar to the final album version, but in this early mix the bridge lasts for 4 measures longer.
Discs → MD125 → Karma Police {MD125} * <alternate mix - extended>
Transcription
Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes like a fridge / He's like a detuned radio / Karma police / Arrest this girl / Her Hitler hairdo is making me feel ill / And we have crashed her party / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with us / Karma Police / I've given all I can / It's not enough / I've given all I can but we're still on the payroll / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with us / For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself
Recordings → Karma Police {MD126}
Studio mix. Final album version or very near to it.
Discs → MD126 → Karma Police {MD126} † <finished mix · released on OK Computer>
Transcription
Karma police / Arrest this man / He talks in maths / He buzzes like a fridge / He's like a detuned radio / Karma police / Arrest this girl / Her Hitler hairdo is making me feel ill / And we have crashed her party / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with us / Karma Police / I've given all I can / It's not enough / I've given all I can but we're still on the payroll / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get / This is what you'll get when you mess with us / For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself / Phew, for a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself