This slow burning swooner was first performed at Thom Yorke's solo benefit gig for the Green Party in Cambridge in February 2010.
The King of Limbs refers to an oak tree in southern England, which is thought to be 1,000-years-old and is reputedly Europe's oldest tree. Yorke's lead vocal in this song uses the same reverb as "House of Cards" from In Rainbows. It is a room sample from Tottenham House, which is located three miles from where the veteran tree resides in Silvernape Forest.
In his review of The King of Limbs, The Daily Telegraph's Neil McCormick called this song, "A campfire lullaby for the end of the world." It appears Yorke is wanting to bring comfort to the many casualties of life in the 21st century (the "lost and sold") and gather them in his arms. However, the victims are resigned to giving "up the ghost."
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