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Radiohead — High and Dry
Album: The Bends
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 5021









Released: 1995
Length: 4:13
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Two jumps in a week
I bet you think that's pretty clever
Don't you boy
Flying on your motorcycle
Watching all the ground beneath you drop

You'd kill yourself for recognition
Kill yourself to never ever stop
You broke another mirror
You're turning into something you are not

Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry

Drying up in conversation
You will be the one who cannot talk
All your insides fall to pieces
You just sit there wishing you could still make love

They're the ones who'll hate you
When you think you've got the world all sussed out
They're the ones who'll spit at you
You will be the one screaming out

Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry

It's the best thing that you ever had
The best thing that you ever, ever had
It's the best thing that you ever had
The best thing you have had, has gone away

Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry

Don't leave me high
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Comments (518)add comment
 bluematrix wrote:


It pleases my wizards


It teases my gizzards
Love it..
This is a tolerable RHead song.  Until the critics told everyone how much you should love them and their crappy later music, and everyone in the echo chamber agreed even though the emperor had no clothes.
 cvddrift wrote:

I hope RadioHead will release new songs similar to their work in the 90's soon...!



that would be so great. 
I hope RadioHead will release new songs similar to their work in the 90's soon...!
 ace-marc wrote:

And it appeases my innards.

It breezes my buzzards.
Whaa?
Astounding song - the absolute wealth in their catalogue.... Damn...
Good tune! They played it a lot on the radio & I never knew who it was. Thanx RP!
 bluefrog wrote:

Rush fan here. Thom's vocals aren't whiny. LOL



Rush fan also here. This was Thom Yorke before whining days. When RH were just another promising alternative band of the 90's.
 robco1 wrote:

Here here! Good analogy.



Hear, hear! Good analogy analogy.  
I know the feeling! For 10 full years, I called Tokyo home. I was living in Ishikawa when this rocked the world, though. It was obscure, but I did know of it when I lived in Noto from '93-2000. From 2002-12, I lived in Akatsutsumi, Setagaya-ku, a few minutes down the tracks from the incredibly hip and surreal party enclave of Shimokitazawa, and Radiohead ruled! That was maybe the best decade of my life! (Till Fukushima made me flee; the effects are becoming obvious -- is it a co-incidence The Pacific is so warm and all that crazy weather has affected so much and so many? 3 of the 6 reactors that powered the world's biggest metropolis gave up their heat to the environment and are STILL MELTING, STILL LEAKING, and NOTHING that has worked has been done to mitigate it...) The Japanese government said, "Don't worry, it's a safe level or radiation." HA! Yeah, right... And the very next day, vthe US Embassy made us come get our potassium iodide tablets to protect our thyroid glands. I got the hell out of there and back to Colorado. All of that aside, I still often dream in Japanese, and in my dreams I still eat aburi shimesaba and drink ji-zake all night at Shirube, then drink at Mother's, around the corner, till dawn! and shoot the shit with locals just like I used to regularly when I lived there! RP and Radiohead are true constants!

 Aaronosteo wrote:

Had just moved to Japan and was missing home. Came across RH via one of the amazing CD stores in Nippon. So played this in the shoebox of apartment and it just added to the mood as I looked over the endless suburb that Tokyo is...



Had just moved to Japan and was missing home. Came across RH via one of the amazing CD stores in Nippon. So played this in the shoebox of apartment and it just added to the mood as I looked over the endless suburb that Tokyo is...
I was lucky enough to see these guys twice in the early days. Once at Brixton Academy in London as the support act for James but also in a really small club in Reading, Berkshire (the name escapes me now) when there could only have been about 60 people there. Both would have been the Pablo Honey days. Saw them at the Reading Festival many years later (late 2000's?) when they pretty much played their newer stuff which I've never really "got". It was quite boring...
Rush fan here. Thom's vocals aren't whiny. LOL
 RingoTheFirst wrote:

I'm by no means a hardcore RH fan, but have liked them since OK Computer came out. Wait, that's about 20 years... shit. I'm old. 

Anyway, if you like this song, then listen to the Bends. To me, they're a band with quite a different sound back then... much more poppy. It's pretty easy to get into that era of Radiohead. Then branch out into the newer stuff. Personally, I think Moon-shaped Pool is pretty accessible, you just have to give it a chance to get its hooks into you. I've bounced off their albums in recent years to varying degrees, but MSP was in my car for months an became the theme to a whole period of my life. 

I guess if you don;t like Thom's vocals (which can be a bit whiney according to some) then you might be less inclines to really love some parts of their later albums. But hopefully you give them a chance. It's always the albums that take the longest to get into that have the most to replayability and longevity.

Hmmm, I've just made myself want to go back and give King of Limbs another go...
 
Delayed THANK YOU here Ringo...and since then I've gone to a 9 on this one. And agreement on how time of life, or the happenstance, when hearing albums does impart a lot into future listenings...just before the Stay Home order in March I had this CD from the library and really enjoyed it. LLRP!!
 bluematrix wrote:


It pleases my wizards
 
And it appeases my innards.
 ODAD wrote:

It sneezes my lizards.

 

It pleases my wizards
 Laptopdog wrote:
Ah...The Bends. So many excellent memories from this album riding my bike along the bike path between Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach Boardwalk with this brilliant music playing in my headphones providing a perfect soundtrack to blissful summer days. Turned me into a lifelong Radiohead fan.
 

I gave this a 7 because I must have been feeling like that at the time. As a 7, it shows up in my favorites. And I won't downgrade this song so it won't show... I know I'll need it again someday. I just skip it when I don't...
The Bends never felt so good : >
 ODAD wrote:

It sneezes my lizards.

 
Bless you

And 6+1 today.
LLRP!!
 (anonymous) wrote:


I remember when this song first came out...  I heard it on a video on VH1...  loved this song then, and love it now...  it squeezes my gizzards...


 
It sneezes my lizards.

It doesn't get much better than this. 
Ah...The Bends. So many excellent memories from this album riding my bike along the bike path between Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach Boardwalk with this brilliant music playing in my headphones providing a perfect soundtrack to blissful summer days. Turned me into a lifelong Radiohead fan.
 lizardking wrote:

Pretty close to my reaction too!  And for me, as I try to enjoy RH tracks more and more, I actually bumped by original 3 rating on this track to a 5.
I forget which track I commented on asking for some sort of "intro to RH" tracks to try and get on the bandwagon.  I forget the names of the 2 or 3 RH tracks I enjoy; ultimately, I think I need to listen to entire albums of theirs, they seem more concept than single track minded group.  Is that true?  Really any feedback from RH fans is welcomed.

Long Live RP!



 
I'm by no means a hardcore RH fan, but have liked them since OK Computer came out. Wait, that's about 20 years... shit. I'm old. 

Anyway, if you like this song, then listen to the Bends. To me, they're a band with quite a different sound back then... much more poppy. It's pretty easy to get into that era of Radiohead. Then branch out into the newer stuff. Personally, I think Moon-shaped Pool is pretty accessible, you just have to give it a chance to get its hooks into you. I've bounced off their albums in recent years to varying degrees, but MSP was in my car for months an became the theme to a whole period of my life. 

I guess if you don;t like Thom's vocals (which can be a bit whiney according to some) then you might be less inclines to really love some parts of their later albums. But hopefully you give them a chance. It's always the albums that take the longest to get into that have the most to replayability and longevity.

Hmmm, I've just made myself want to go back and give King of Limbs another go...
PSYCHED for N.A. tour this summer - missed good tickets this morning - will try tomorrow (last day of sale tomorrow in Chicago).....
Peerless.
 kingart wrote:
Wow. I've heard this before, many times, here on RP and elsewhere. But today, it abolished the reflex to hit the PSD on hearing the whining downbeat drone of RH. I liked it. It must be the mood. 

 
Pretty close to my reaction too!  And for me, as I try to enjoy RH tracks more and more, I actually bumped by original 3 rating on this track to a 5.
I forget which track I commented on asking for some sort of "intro to RH" tracks to try and get on the bandwagon.  I forget the names of the 2 or 3 RH tracks I enjoy; ultimately, I think I need to listen to entire albums of theirs, they seem more concept than single track minded group.  Is that true?  Really any feedback from RH fans is welcomed.

Long Live RP!


Most excellent record...
 boontonite wrote:
Saw them perform this live in NYC at the time The Bends was released. Fantastic!

 
well color me green
i'm so jealous (really) 
Saw them perform this live in NYC at the time The Bends was released. Fantastic!

i thought they were just another 'grunge' flavor of the month band in the '90's
but anyway, 'The Bends', of course in my opinion is timeless
.


 
 GuiltyFeat wrote:

At the risk of courting massive disapproval, I humbly submit:
Faith & Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 

The Queen is Dead & Strangeways Here We Come

Your Arsenal & Vauxhall and I

Woodface & Together Alone

Help! & Rubber Soul

and just for good luck:

One Trick Pony, Hearts & Bones and Graceland 


 
I'd also submit Joshua Tree/Achtung Baby.

Oh shit, there's fredriley, where's the back entrance? 
Expect that I cant afford to see them at a show this year.  That sucks.
I heard "Creep" on the radio in '92 and thought this was the next Nirvana... but... as much as I admire the skillfulness and apparent sincerity with which they record their songs... I still best like the sort of punkish, self-deprecating simplicity of that early effort. I either love or hate these guys since then, song by song. I guess that speaks well of their originality and 'eclecticism'. Still, I like that clean and lean effort-less quality of their early work.
Wow. I've heard this before, many times, here on RP and elsewhere. But today, it abolished the reflex to hit the PSD on hearing the whining downbeat drone of RH. I liked it. It must be the mood. 
What?!?
Radiohead again?!?
thanx, i love it {#Hearteyes} 
What else can you say.. Radiohead is awesome and especially this guitar full album.  Much better than there last few guitar lacking weaker projects.
 xtalman wrote:
F^&%^&%*&%  PSD didn't work.  Big let down from Clapton and Winwood.  Whiny wankery.


We are all entitled to an opinion and here's mine:

This a great pop song from a fantastic guitar album by the best and most innovative band of the last 30 years.


 zigzag wrote:

Actually it was the novelty hit "Creep" that put them "on the map", much to their collective embarrassment.

The Bends is an album by a band that awoke to find themselves uniquely gifted almost overnight. My personal theory is that they signed a pact with some bad dude at a crossroad near Piccadilly Circus. 

 
Totally agree. They broke through a barrier with this album and just continued with OK Computer and on and on
Beautiful song by an incredible band. Love this album, even the cover art is classic.
F^&%^&%*&%  PSD didn't work.  Big let down from Clapton and Winwood.  Whiny wankery.
 kcar wrote:

Don't really know the George Michael albums but the rest of the list is great...

Idle thought that may engender death threats: RP plays this band way too much. This isn't a bad song, and Thom is making a notable effort to sing with a normal, on-key voice, but the Radiohead mystique is wearing thin for me. 

 
Listen Without Prejudice is waaaay better than it has any right to be. I loved that album when it came out, lots of beautiful melancholia and celebratory destruction of his previous record-company-required persona.
Not a Radiohead fan but heard this song on RP and loved it
 
Today and yesterday- Radiohead for breakfast-BRING iT ON!{#Music}
What a beautiful set this morning!!
 scraig wrote:
Much like Beck's "Loser," this song put them on the map, but has grown difficult to listen to anymore.

 
Actually it was the novelty hit "Creep" that put them "on the map", much to their collective embarrassment.

The Bends is an album by a band that awoke to find themselves uniquely gifted almost overnight. My personal theory is that they signed a pact with some bad dude at a crossroad near Piccadilly Circus. 
 GuiltyFeat wrote:

At the risk of courting massive disapproval, I humbly submit:
Faith & Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 

The Queen is Dead & Strangeways Here We Come

Your Arsenal & Vauxhall and I

Woodface & Together Alone

Help! & Rubber Soul

and just for good luck:

One Trick Pony, Hearts & Bones and Graceland 


 
Don't really know the George Michael albums but the rest of the list is great...

Idle thought that may engender death threats: RP plays this band way too much. This isn't a bad song, and Thom is making a notable effort to sing with a normal, on-key voice, but the Radiohead mystique is wearing thin for me. 
Outstanding- a U2 challenger! 
Great album- play 'Black Star' soon please!
 MassivRuss wrote:

Thanks for making me feel not so alone. There's plenty of music it took me a long, long time to "get". RH, I feel sure, I will never get, especially the cultish fervor of fans & critics.

 
I, too, felt this way a few years ago. Then, suddenly one day, I "got it." It was like the stars realigned or something. Now I can't understand my earlier feelings. Now, these guys send shivers up my spine.
 jamelch wrote:
I covered this song in a high school talent show, little old me on my acoustic guitar.  Every other act was a male "Korn" type band, screaming and all.  I really stood out.  I have no idea where I got the balls to do that.  I was braver then I suppose.

 
i would immediately be your fan and lover!
 junebaby65 wrote:
Still trying to figure out why they're so popular.  To each his or her own, I guess.  Lots of people dog music I love, but I'm doing my best to get a handle on Radiohead.

 
Thanks for making me feel not so alone. There's plenty of music it took me a long, long time to "get". RH, I feel sure, I will never get, especially the cultish fervor of fans & critics.
Still trying to figure out why they're so popular.  To each his or her own, I guess.  Lots of people dog music I love, but I'm doing my best to get a handle on Radiohead.
Much like Beck's "Loser," this song put them on the map, but has grown difficult to listen to anymore.
yay! thanks for playing ;)
10+
 flodinos wrote:
The best song from Radio Head

 
Heard this on an edition of 411, skate video magazine. Suffice to say, that portion of the video, got worn out.
The best song from Radio Head
I covered this song in a high school talent show, little old me on my acoustic guitar.  Every other act was a male "Korn" type band, screaming and all.  I really stood out.  I have no idea where I got the balls to do that.  I was braver then I suppose.
{#Yell}  "Godlike" song from a "Godlike" album  {#Cheers}
Not sure what it is, I used to like Radiohead, now they just annoy the crap out of me.
 Stingray wrote:
BORING in my XXtremely humble opinion!

 
It's not your fault.
 BrightonGuy wrote:
One of the greatest bands in the history of modern music, and one of the greatest albums.
 

  100% Agreement

MassiveRuss is just......... oh well he's entitled to his opinion


Genius - Beautiful - Great -  10
 Stingray wrote:
BORING in my XXtremely humble opinion!

 
In my opinion your opinion is loud and very annoying {#Beat}
BORING in my XXtremely humble opinion!
{#Bananapiano}  G O D L I K E
 Ghiaap wrote:

I guess you don't like RadioHead so much?

 
Yea, his mom broke up with him to this song playing in the background. He's been scarred and associates his pain with Radiohead. it happens, don't judge him too harshly.

{#Devil_pimp} 

 lemmoth wrote:

For me.... Revolver & Sgt Pepper, King of America & Blood and Chocolate, Low & Heroes, Sticky Fingers & Exile on Main 
Street  come immediately to mind. But very few others of this caliber

 
At the risk of courting massive disapproval, I humbly submit:
Faith & Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 

The Queen is Dead & Strangeways Here We Come

Your Arsenal & Vauxhall and I

Woodface & Together Alone

Help! & Rubber Soul

and just for good luck:

One Trick Pony, Hearts & Bones and Graceland 

 MassivRuss wrote:

You must be commenting on another band. This is RadioHead. Useless minimalist suicidal drivel, capped of with Thom Yorke's rectal itch of a voice.

 
I guess you don't like RadioHead so much?

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all across the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  we love this song...  it tweaks our nipples and squeezes our gizzards...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...

Really Bill? You follow the simple joy of LZ's That's The Way with this?

Segue FAIL.

PSD.

OOH! Pink Floyd - Time!!!
 BrightonGuy wrote:
One of the greatest bands in the history of modern music, and one of the greatest albums.
 

 
You must be commenting on another band. This is RadioHead. Useless minimalist suicidal drivel, capped of with Thom Yorke's rectal itch of a voice.
One of the greatest bands in the history of modern music, and one of the greatest albums.
 
 RJTM wrote:

I agree with you lemmoth.. free world and we all have our own opinions, but ¨soulless¨?  never a word that should be used in the same sentence when talking about Radiohead

 
Definitely not soulless. Soul-destroying!

also, suicide-inducing, migraine-triggering, rectal-itching.

But not soulless.

And to the denizens of the land of "RadioHead is the BEST BAND EVER!" - bull. also, shit. No even the best band in any given month, never mind EVER.

{#Grumpy}
 gypsyman wrote:

I do not dislike Radiohead. They are technically very good. They produce competent melodies. They are prolific. They are soulless.

OK, I guess I dislike Radiohead. But not really. Hell, I don't care, I'm not gonna change the station or anything.  {#Smile}

 

Competent? In the pantheon of modern rythm music they are the dog's bollocks. After years as an oilfield diver, this album truly resonates.
Breathe, Gatorade, Breathe.
 hencini wrote:
Great stuff.  These guys have made some tremendous music through the years.  I hear people say that Coldplay are the Radiohead of the 21st century, but I don't buy it.  : )

 
Coldplay are the Top-40 imitation of Radiohead...
 gypsyman wrote:

I do not dislike Radiohead. They are technically very good. They produce competent melodies. They are prolific. They are soulless.

OK, I guess I dislike Radiohead. But not really. Hell, I don't care, I'm not gonna change the station or anything.  {#Smile}

 
"I'm not gonna change the station or anything.  {#Smile}"




Wise move.         {#Roflol}
 lemmoth wrote:


"Soulless" an appelation I totally understand and apply to a number of artists - recently talked about it with the friends in the contex of "corporate country music," it applied to rock bands like Boston back in the day.

But applying it to Radiohead is incomprehensible unless you've never seen them live, seen a video of theirs, or listened through and through to their albums.  These boys from Oxford got lots of soul, and heart, and brains, and talent, and............

Best band in the world.

 
I agree with you lemmoth.. free world and we all have our own opinions, but ¨soulless¨?  never a word that should be used in the same sentence when talking about Radiohead

marvelous...  love it...
 
 gypsyman wrote:

I do not dislike Radiohead. They are technically very good. They produce competent melodies. They are prolific. They are soulless.

OK, I guess I dislike Radiohead. But not really. Hell, I don't care, I'm not gonna change the station or anything.  {#Smile}
 

"Soulless" an appelation I totally understand and apply to a number of artists - recently talked about it with the friends in the contex of "corporate country music," it applied to rock bands like Boston back in the day.

But applying it to Radiohead is incomprehensible unless you've never seen them live, seen a video of theirs, or listened through and through to their albums.  These boys from Oxford got lots of soul, and heart, and brains, and talent, and............

Best band in the world.
 ambrebalte wrote:

I'm high each time I listen to this song. And dancing
 
Hope you are having a great time right this minute!  Love this song...
 Lazarus wrote:


Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
 
I'm high each time I listen to this song. And dancing
 d-don wrote:


"Squeezes my gizzards..." I haven't heard that phrase in years. Thanks. While I am here, I have to say I am one of the few souls, it seems, that does not get Radiohead. My cross to bear, I guess...
 

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
 d-don wrote:


"Squeezes my gizzards..." I haven't heard that phrase in years. Thanks. While I am here, I have to say I am one of the few souls, it seems, that does not get Radiohead. My cross to bear, I guess...
 
I do not dislike Radiohead. They are technically very good. They produce competent melodies. They are prolific. They are soulless.

OK, I guess I dislike Radiohead. But not really. Hell, I don't care, I'm not gonna change the station or anything.  {#Smile}
 (former member) wrote:

Love this song...  it squeezes my gizzards...


 
 

"Squeezes my gizzards..." I haven't heard that phrase in years. Thanks. While I am here, I have to say I am one of the few souls, it seems, that does not get Radiohead. My cross to bear, I guess...
Thank you for playing this song.  {#Guitarist}
Best pop song ever written by this amazingly vital, progressive, challenging band.
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...

 
 
poor thing!
 That_SOB wrote:
Coldplay commented about Radiohead  "While they are better musicians than we are, we're better looking."
Coldplay was definitely right about the"better musicians" part.
 
 

and the rest as well. Haaaa...! This statement could have been mine!

Funny!!


I like 50% of Radiohead's music.

I am not saying this song is not good or mediocre. Possibly not!

But I certainly do not like it! If this shall be a 10 (or more) I wonder how

you might rate CROWDED HOUSE (since it could be there song, in structure).


It's the best thing that you ever had. 
I wish I could give it 11
Always brings back melancholic memories.
Nice call!!!
lemmoth wrote:

For me.... Revolver & Sgt Pepper, King of America & Blood and Chocolate, Low & Heroes, Sticky Fingers & Exile on Main 
Street  come immediately to mind. But very few others of this caliber
 


I like this one but, funny enough, I love the cover Jamie Cullum did! I wish that would be part of one of Bills playlists...
Sentimental Radiohead!
Coldplay commented about Radiohead  "While they are better musicians than we are, we're better looking."
Coldplay was definitely right about the"better musicians" part.
 
 gemtag wrote:

Coldplay is definitely Radiohead Lite.
 
i disagree, Coldplay are all, "Para Para Paradise"  Radiohead are all Let Down. 

Coldplay are generally happy, Radiohead is "slit my wrists music" as my wife says (along with PF, PT, Elliott Smith etc.)
 gandalfbmg wrote:
I wonder if there's ever been back to back album releases that are as good as The Bends and OK Computer...
 
For me.... Revolver & Sgt Pepper, King of America & Blood and Chocolate, Low & Heroes, Sticky Fingers & Exile on Main 
Street  come immediately to mind. But very few others of this caliber
 Nuance wrote:

Oh lord no... Coldplay are a thin veneer compared to the musical complexity of Radiohead. Like the sugar coating on a smartie.
 
Coldplay is definitely Radiohead Lite.
However sad and down I may feel, this song always puts a smile on my face. Magic:)
Perhaps Radioheads happiest song!
How's your volume today, Romeo?
 Darlington wrote:
Great show last night in Atlanta. Did not play this, unfortunately, last ending punch of "Reckoner" and "Street Spirit" was just incredible.
 
insanely jealous
 hencini wrote:
Great stuff.  These guys have made some tremendous music through the years.  I hear people say that Coldplay are the Radiohead of the 21st century, but I don't buy it.  : )
 
Oh lord no... Coldplay are a thin veneer compared to the musical complexity of Radiohead. Like the sugar coating on a smartie.
Great show last night in Atlanta. Did not play this, unfortunately, last ending punch of "Reckoner" and "Street Spirit" was just incredible.
Great stuff.  These guys have made some tremendous music through the years.  I hear people say that Coldplay are the Radiohead of the 21st century, but I don't buy it.  : )
Almost forgot how great this song was until I heard it while watching the movie 50/50 last week.  Great flick by the way.  
 MTL_Robbie wrote:

Good ! I am not alone with this "problem" ! ;-)

 

Neither is the dude in the cover art.
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...

 
 
Good ! I am not alone with this "problem" ! ;-)

 gandalfbmg wrote:
I wonder if there's ever been back to back album releases that are as good as The Bends and OK Computer...
 
It's subjective, of course, but I can think of several instances.

 gandalfbmg wrote:
I wonder if there's ever been back to back album releases that are as good as The Bends and OK Computer...
 
I'd say Pablo Honey and The Bends, not OK Computer.

Fine! I'll submit, I like this song... A lot! So much emotion put into this. I usually find that Radiohead takes things to the extremes, but here... Whow.
Fantastic. I'm feeling how Thom sounds in this song :(
I played this just last night with my band at a pub :) Radiohead {#Daisy}
 chirpie wrote:

I'd pick Joshua Tree - Achtung Baby

It's a safe, but mostly correct answer. ;-) 
 

I'd throw that in the running for second maybe, but not better.

I don't even think REM (who in my opinion are the best long-lived post-Beatles rock band) have pulled off a immedate one-two combo like these...
 gandalfbmg wrote:
I wonder if there's ever been back to back album releases that are as good as The Bends and OK Computer...
 
I'd pick Joshua Tree - Achtung Baby

It's a safe, but mostly correct answer. ;-)