Songs → Climbing Up The Walls
Released on OK Computer. According to a quote from Colin published in NME in 1997, Climbing Up the Walls was written in 1995 and developed or rehearsed during soundchecks in that year.
Aside from the studio version, the song is only present on the MiniDiscs in the form of various live recordings from the band's opening sets for Alanis Morissette in August of 1996. An earlier recording of the song's unfinished lyrics being read aloud does appear in the earlier minidiscs, however.
Recording Chronology
Older Recordings
July - August 1996: On Tour
- Climbing Up The Walls {MD118}
- Climbing Up The Walls (Mansfield)
- Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #1}
- Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #2}
- Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #3}
- Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #4}
- Climbing Up The Walls (Hershey)
Winter 1997: Mixing Sessions
Recordings → (Dan's Climbing Up The Walls Speech)
A recording of early lyrics from Climbing Up The Walls. Included on the OKNOTOK white cassette (released there in a slightly edited form).
Read by the son of the band's guitar technician Peter Clements (AKA Plank).
This recording is referenced in the OKNOTOK notebook, and was possibly intended to be layered into the song.
Discs → MD120 → (Dan's Climbing Up The Walls Speech) * <released on OKNOTOK in edited form>
Transcription
I am the key to locking your dress / That keeps your toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll find you came out where you went in / So tuck the kids up in safe tonight / And shut the eyes in the cupboard / I am the weapon that you needed / Keep an eye out for the neighbors / Any, any way you turn I'll be there / Open your skull I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / I am the club and carving knife / We are friends till we die / You should not walk alone at night / You must show me your care / In the time when the lights go out / I am her face when she sleeps / I can't remember how it happened / Fifteen blows to the brain / I am the face on the news / I will strike when the -- / I will strike any time / I will knock fifteen times / I have the smell of a local man / I can strike any time / I am the pick in the ice in the quiet country lanes / I am the newspaper rounds / I am the eyes in the cupboard / I am the creak in the floorboards / I am the crack of the hammer / Overhead power lines / I am the old frightened / I am these ever [?] / (The ever [?]) / Ever [?] / (OK, thanks Dan.)
Recordings → (Dan's Speech Slower)
A slowed down copy of the recording of Dan Clements reading early lyrics from Climbing Up The Walls.
Discs → MD120 → (Dan's Speech Slower) *
Transcription
I am the key to locking your dress / That keeps your toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll find you came out where you went in / So tuck the kids up in safe tonight / And shut the eyes in the cupboard / I am the weapon that you needed / Keep an eye out for the neighbors / Any, any way you turn I'll be there / Open your skull I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / I am the club and carving knife / We are friends till we die / You should not walk alone at night / You must show me your care / In the time when the lights go out / I am her face when she sleeps / I can't remember how it happened / Fifteen blows to the brain / I am the face on the news / I will strike when the -- / I will strike any time / I will knock fifteen times / I have the smell of a local man / I can strike any time / I am the pick in the ice in the quiet country lanes / I am the newspaper rounds / I am the eyes in the cupboard / I am the creak in the floorboards / I am the crack of the hammer / Overhead power lines / I am the old frightened / I am these ever [?] / (The ever [?]) / Ever [?] / (OK, thanks Dan.)
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls {MD118}
Live recording from an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD118 → Climbing Up The Walls {MD118} †
Transcription
I am the key to the lock in the dress / That keeps the toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll only see my reflection / I am the kiss as she sleeps tonight / I am the pick in the ice / Do not cry out or hit the alarm / We are friends till we die / And either way you turn / I'll be there / Open up your skull / I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / It's always best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / It's in the crack of your waiting smile / Fifteen blows to the skull / So lock the kids up safe tonight / Put the eyes in the cupboard / I am the smell of a local man / Who gets the loneliest feeling / And either way he turns / I'll be there / Open up your skull / I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls (Mansfield)
Live performance, recorded on 14 August 1996. Recording has a short cut in the middle of the song.
Discs → MD121 → Climbing Up The Walls (Mansfield) {part 1}
Transcription
(OK, this one features the artist formerly known as Colin on bass synthesizer. But you don't care. But we do.) / I am the key to the lock in the dress / That keeps your toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll only see my reflection / I am a face when she sleeps tonight / I am the smell of her fear / Do not cry out or make a sound / We are friends till we die / And either way you turn / I'll be there / Open up your skull / I'll be there / Climbing up the walls
Discs → MD121 → Climbing Up The Walls (Mansfield) {part 2}
Transcription
--ways best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / It's in the crack of your waiting smile / Fifteen blows to your mind / So lock the kids up safe tonight / And shut the eyes in the cupboard / I am the smell of a local man / Who gets the loneliest feeling / That either way he turns / I'll be there / Open up your skull / I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #1}
Live recording from an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #1}
Transcription
I am the key to the lock in the dress / That keeps her toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll only see my reflection / I am her face when she sleeps tonight / I am the crack of the smile / You will not feel a thing when I'm there / And we are friends till we die / And either way you turn I'll be there / Open up your skull, I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / It's always best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / It's in the crack of your waiting smile / Fifteen blows to your mind / So tuck the kids in safe tonight / And shut the eyes in the cupboard / I have the smell of a local man / Who gets the loneliest feeling / That either way he turns I'll be there / Open up your skull, I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #2}
Live recording from an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #2} *
Transcription
I am the key to the lock in the dress / I am the weapon that you needed / And if you get too far inside / You'll only find yourself believing / I am her face when she sleeps tonight / I am the eyes in the cupboard / And if you get too out of your mind / I'll only find you [?] / And either way you turn I'll be there / Open up your skull, I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / It's always best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / When you don't know which way to turn / Fifteen blows to your mind / So lock the kids up safe tonight / And put the eyes in the cupboard / I am the smell of a local man / Who gets the loneliest feeling / That either way he turns I'll be there / Open up your skull, I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #3}
Live recording from an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #3} *
Transcription
(Here's a song about murder.) / I am the key to the lock in the dress / I am the weapon that you needed / And if you get too far inside / You'll only find yourself believing / I am her face when she sleeps tonight / I am the pick in the ice / Do not cry out or hit the alarm / We are friends till we die / And either way you turn I'll be there / Open up your skull I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / It's always best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / It's in the crack of your waiting smile / Fifteen blows to your mind / So tuck the kids in safe tonight / Shut the eyes in the cupboard / I am the smell of a local man / Who's got the loneliest feeling / That either way he turns I'll be there / Open up your skull I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #4}
Live recording from an unknown date in August 1996.
Discs → MD122 → Climbing Up The Walls {MD122 #4} *
Transcription
I am the key to the lock in the dress / That keeps your toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll only see my reflection / I am her face when she sleeps tonight / I am the pick in the ice / Do not cry out or hit the alarm / We are friends till we die / And either way you turn I'll be there / Open up your skull I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / It's always best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / It's in the crack of your waiting smile / Fifteen blows to your mind / So tuck the kids in safe tonight / Shut the eyes in the cupboard / I am the smell of a local man / Who gets the loneliest feeling / That either he turns I'll be there / Open up your skull I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls (Hershey)
Live performance, recorded on 26 August 1996.
Discs → MD118 → Climbing Up The Walls (Hershey)
Transcription
I am the key to the lock in your dress / That keeps your toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll only see my reflection / I am the face when she sleeps tonight / I am the pick in the ice / Don't cry out or hit the alarm / You know we're friends til we die / But either way you turn / I'll be there / Open up your skull / I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / It's always best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / Fifteen blows to the back of your head / Fifteen blows to your mind / So lock the kids up safe tonight / Put the eyes in the cupboard / Don't cry out or make a sound / You'll get the loneliest feeling / But either way you turn / I'll be there / Open up your skull / I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / (Thank you.)
Recordings → Climbing Up The Walls {MD126}
Studio mix. This sounds like it is the final mix released on the album, or very similar to it.
Discs → MD126 → Climbing Up The Walls {MD126} † <finished mix · released on OK Computer>
Transcription
I am the key to the lock in your house / That keeps your toys in the basement / And if you get too far inside / You'll only see my reflection / It's always best with the covers up / I am the pick in the ice / Do not cry out or hit the alarm / You know we're friends till we die / But either way you turn, I'll be there / Open up your skull, I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / It's always best when the light is off / It's always better on the outside / Fifteen blows to the back of your head / Fifteen blows to your mind / So lock the kids up safe tonight / Shut the eyes in the cupboard / I got the smell of a local man / Who's got the loneliest feeling / But either way you turn, I'll be there / Open up your skull, I'll be there / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls / Climbing up the walls