Songs → Let Down
Released on OK Computer. Let Down was written prior to the beginning of the MiniDiscs, having been previously performed live by Thom and Jonny in November 1995.
The full band arrangement and lyrics were not finished, however, and can be heard at various stages of development throughout band rehearsals and live performances on the MiniDiscs.
Recording Chronology
April - May 1996: Ideas + Rehearsals
May - July 1996: Ideas + Rehearsals
July - August 1996: On Tour
- Let Down (Galway)
- Let Down (East Rutherford)
- Let Down {MD122 #1}
- Let Down {MD122 #2}
- Let Down (Pittsburgh)
Winter 1997: Mixing Sessions
Recordings → Let Down {MD112}
Full band rehearsal of an early arrangement. The third verse seemingly had not been written yet at this point. Following the 2nd verse and chorus is an extended instrumental section. Recording ends abruptly.
Discs → MD112 → Let Down {MD112} †
Transcription
Transport, motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Sentimental drivel / Clinging onto bottles / And when it comes / It's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed, juices flowing / Wings twitch, legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around
Recordings → Let Down {MD117}
Full band rehearsal of an early arrangement. The third verse still has not been written at this point, and the song ends with an extended 4-minute instrumental build and jam following the 2nd chorus.
Discs → MD117 → Let Down {MD117}
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / (That's a good one.) / (Yeah, that works.)
Recordings → Let Down 9.1
Full band rehearsal, complete song. The arrangement here resembles live versions from July / August 1996. Thom sings a third verse but the lyrics have not been finalized.
Discs → MD119 → Let Down 9.1
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes I'm so, so disappointed / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / When it / When it drives you crazy / When it drives you crazy / Endless repetition / Endless [?] / [?] / Do not bother coming / [?] / [?] / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around
Recordings → Let Down 9.2
Full band rehearsal. Recording begins and ends abruptly, but seems to contain more or less the full song.
The arrangement here resembles live versions from July / August 1996. Thom sings a third verse but the lyrics have not been finalized.
Discs → MD119 → Let Down 9.2
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / And when it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down and hanging around / [?] stomp into the ashes / [?] / When I'm [?] / When I'm gonna try it / One of your persuasions / One of your collections / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around
Recordings → Let Down 9.3
Full band rehearsal. Recording begins and abruptly, the song's intro is cut slightly.
The arrangement here resembles live versions from July / August 1996. Thom sings a third verse but the lyrics have not been finalized.
Discs → MD119 → Let Down 9.3
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / [?] anyone considers / Anyone can [?] / Taking off [?] / Taking off their [?] / I know something good too / I know what I'm doing / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / (Great middle.)
Recordings → Let Down 10.1
Full band rehearsal. Recording includes the full song.
The arrangement here resembles live versions from July / August 1996. Thom sings a third verse but the lyrics have not been finalized.
Discs → MD120 → Let Down 10.1
Transcription
(OK.) / Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / No one sitting around / And no one [?] / [?] / They're not gonna break you / When you're [?] / When you're [?] / [?] / [?] / [?] down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / (What?)
Recordings → Let Down (Galway)
Live performance, recorded on 28 July 1996. The lyrics have not been finalized by this point, so Thom repeats the 2nd verse as the 3rd verse.
Discs → MD121 → Let Down (Galway)
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around
Recordings → Let Down (East Rutherford)
Live performance, recorded on 19 August 1996.
Discs → MD121 → Let Down (East Rutherford)
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around
Recordings → Let Down {MD122 #1}
Live performance. Recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → Let Down {MD122 #1}
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around
Recordings → Let Down {MD122 #2}
Live performance. Recorded on an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → Let Down {MD122 #2}
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / And when it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / (Thanks very much.)
Recordings → Let Down (Pittsburgh)
Live performance. Recorded on 27 August 1996.
Discs → MD118 → Let Down (Pittsburgh)
Transcription
(Thanks.) / Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging onto bottles / When it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am gonna grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / (Thank you very much.)
Recordings → Let Down {MD125}
Studio mix. This version begins with acoustic guitar similar to early live performances.
Discs → MD125 → Let Down {MD125} <alternate mix - acoustic intro>
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging on to bottles / And when it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / You know / You know where you are with / You know where you are with / Floor collapsing / Floating, bouncing back / And one day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction (you know where you are) / Hysterical and useless (you know where you are) / Hysterical and (you know where you are) / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around
Recordings → Let Down {finished edit}
Studio mix. This version fades out before the final verse. It's unclear if this was intended to be a possible radio edit or if this was considered as an option for the album.
Discs → MD126 → Let Down {finished edit} † <finished edit - fade out before final verse>
Transcription
Transport / Motorways and tramlines / Starting and then stopping / Taking off and landing / The emptiest of feelings / Disappointed people / Clinging on to bottles / And when it comes it's so, so disappointing / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Shell smashed / Juices flowing / Wings twitch / Legs are going / Don't get sentimental / It always ends up drivel / One day I am going to grow wings / A chemical reaction / Hysterical and useless / Hysterical and / Let down and hanging around / Crushed like a bug in the ground / Let down and hanging around / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again / Let down again