The song ties in Radiohead’s obsessions with being trapped in space (or somewhere unknown), and compares it to living normal, middle class life (as with “No Surprises”, “Black Star”, etc.), lamenting society for how it is run.
[Verse 1]
I'm stuck in the TARDIS
Trapped in hyperspace
One minute, snake charming
The next in a motorcade
[Verse 2]
All the right moves and
In the right places
Watch me dance, I'm a puppet
You can almost see the strings
[Verse 3]
Give me an answer
Give me a line
I've been climbing up this ladder
I've been wasting my time
[Chorus]
Up on the ladder we're all tied to a stake
Up on the ladder we wait for your mistake
Up on the ladder, try to call out your name
Up on the ladder you're all the fucking same
Up on the Ladder was written by Philip Selway & Ed O’Brien & Colin Greenwood & Jonny Greenwood & Thom Yorke.
Up on the Ladder was produced by Nigel Godrich & Radiohead.
Radiohead released Up on the Ladder on Mon Dec 03 2007.