2+2=5 by Radiohead

1.) What is the song talking about lyrically?

It's about how this man is trapped in a world where he is not like everybody else. He is a dreamer. The world he lives in is able to convince people of falsehoods, like 2+2=5. He is persecuted for thinking differently and for not fitting in to the mold his society has carved out for him. He wants attention from everyone else who is trapped in this system so that maybe they'll realize the world they live in is a lie, and as a result can make an attempt to break the system. He's sick of thieves stealing the truth from everybody.

2.) How does the music mirror or help push the message?

It sounds very helpless and sad at times, especially the beginning, emphasizing the hopeless and dreary nature that society has imposed on everyone. However, when the tempo picks up and the lyrics start talking about how he wants attention, it gives off a vibe of desperation.

3.) The title is an allusion to 1984... explain the connection.

In 1984, Winston thinks that eventually, in the future, the Party will have such control over the truth that they'll eventually say that 2+2=5, and everyone will have to believe that that's true.