😶 About the Song
“Creep” is the anthem for every moment you’ve ever felt like the weird kid in the corner — and somehow it became one of the biggest singalongs of all time.
Thom Yorke wrote it as a brutally honest, awkward love song about wanting someone so much it hurts… but knowing you’ll never measure up. When it exploded in the early ’90s, Radiohead hated it so much they tried to bury it — but the universe had other plans.
On ukulele, it’s devastatingly good. The sweetness of four strings makes the angst sharper, more human, and weirdly beautiful. It’s heartbreak wearing a smile.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
We’ll play it in G major, which keeps the classic voicings and lets the song breathe.
You’ll need G, B, C, and Cm.
Yes — that sneaky B major is the villain here, but it’s what gives the song its ache.
Chord progression (same throughout):
[G] – [B] – [C] – [Cm]
It’s four chords, one emotional rollercoaster.
Strumming pattern: down–down–up–up–down–up, slow and deliberate at around 84 bpm.
For that haunting feel, fingerpick instead (pluck 4–3–2–1 slowly and evenly).
On the “I’m a creep / I’m a weirdo” lines, pull your volume down — quiet resignation beats shouting every time.
Then lean into the chorus and let the uke ring, full of cathartic noise.
Singing tip: Don’t imitate Thom Yorke — lean into your own voice.
Half the power of this song is in honesty, not perfection.
💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Thom Yorke allegedly wrote “Creep” after following a girl for days and then feeling awful about it — which tracks.
- The “F***ing run!” scream in the middle? Completely unplanned. Yorke just snapped during recording, and they kept it.
- The song was banned on BBC Radio 1 for being “too depressing.”
- It flopped on release, then quietly blew up in Israel… and from there, the world.
- Radiohead refused to play it live for years, but eventually gave in — because crowds wouldn’t let them finish sets without it.
🌈 Final Word
“Creep” is the ultimate outsider’s lullaby — fragile, angry, and honest in ways most songs are too scared to be.
On ukulele, it transforms into something more delicate but no less raw.
It’s not a performance; it’s a confession with strings attached.
