"Go to Sleep" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the second single from their sixth studio album, Hail to the Thief (2003) on 18 August 2003. It reached number two on the Canadian Singles Chart, number nine on the Italian Singles Chart, and number 12 on the UK singles chart.

Composition

The first part of "Go to Sleep" is composed in alternating bars of 4/4 and 12/8. It features a processed "stuttering" guitar sound created by Jonny Greenwood. Radiohead released a live version, recorded in Osaka, for the War Child charity in 2004.

Music video

A CGI animated music video was released for "Go to Sleep", directed by Alex Rutterford. It depicts the singer, Thom Yorke, sitting in a park while people in business suits walk by rapidly. The classical buildings spontaneously crumble and reassemble themselves in modern in style.

Release

"Go to Sleep" was released as the second single from Radiohead's sixth studio album, Hail to the Thief (2003) on 18 August 2003. In 2023, Rolling Stone said it was not an appropriate choice of single but that EMI had wanted to "retrench Radiohead as a big rock band" to compete with acts such as Coldplay and Muse.

Track listings

UK versions

CD 1 CDR6613 CD 2 CDRS6613 12" 12R6613

US version

CD 52953 released 3 September 2003 by Capitol Records 7" R-19218

Canada version

CD

Personnel

Charts

Release history