Go to Sleep

"Go to Sleep"
Single by Radiohead
from the album Hail to the Thief
B-side
  • "I Am Citizen Insane"
  • "Gagging Order"
  • "I Am a Wicked Child"
  • "Fog (Again)" (Live)
Released18 August 2003 (2003-08-18)
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:21
Label
SongwriterRadiohead
Producers
Radiohead singles chronology
"There There"
(2003)		 "Go to Sleep"
(2003)		 "2 + 2 = 5"
(2003)
Music video
"Go to Sleep" on YouTube

"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 in Canada, number nine in Italy and number 12 in the UK.

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.

Music video

A CGI music video was directed by Alex Rutterford.[citation needed] It depicts the singer, Thom Yorke, sitting in a park while people in business suits walk by rapidly. The classical buildings crumble and reassemble in modern 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.

Radiohead released a live version, recorded in Osaka, for the War Child charity in 2004. Another live version was released on the 2025 album Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003–2009).

Track listings

UK versions

CD 1 CDR6613

  1. "Go to Sleep" - 3:23
  2. "I Am Citizen Insane" - 3:31
  3. "Fog (Again)" (Live) - 2:17

CD 2 CDRS6613

  1. "Go to Sleep" - 3:23
  2. "Gagging Order" - 3:35
  3. "I Am a Wicked Child" - 3:05

12" 12R6613

  1. "Go to Sleep" - 3:23
  2. "I Am Citizen Insane" - 3:32
  3. "I Am a Wicked Child" - 3:35

US version

CD 52953 released 3 September 2003 by Capitol Records

  1. "Go to Sleep" - 3:23
  2. "Gagging Order" - 3:35
  3. "I Am a Wicked Child" - 3:07

7" R-19218

  1. "Go to Sleep" - 3:21
  2. "I Am Citizen Insane" - 3:30

Canada version

CD 1 52954

  1. "Go to Sleep" - 3:23
  2. "I Am Citizen Insane" - 3:35
  3. "Fog (Again)" (Live) - 2:17

CD 2 52955

  1. "Go to Sleep" - 3:23
  2. "Gagging Order" - 3:35
  3. "I Am a Wicked Child" - 3:07

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)39
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)10
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) 2
Denmark (Tracklisten)11
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)14
France (SNEP)87
Germany (GfK)82
Ireland (IRMA)11
Italy (FIMI)9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)55
Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts)10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)90
UK Singles (Official Charts)12
UK Rock & Metal (Official Charts)2
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) 32

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 18 August 2003
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Parlophone
United States Capitol
Australia 1 September 2003
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Parlophone

References

  1. ↑ Osborn, Brad (2010). "Beats that Commute: Algebraic and Kinesthetic Models for Math-Rock Grooves". Gamut. 3: 57.
  2. ↑ Astley-Brown, Michael (22 February 2017). "Recreate Jonny Greenwood's randomised stutter effect with new Feral Glitch pedal". MusicRadar. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 August 2003. p. 27. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  4. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (9 June 2023). "Twenty years later, Radiohead's Hail to the Thief has never sounded better". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Radiohead release new song for War Child". Music-News.com. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  6. ↑ O’Brien, Molly Mary (15 August 2025). "Radiohead: Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003—2009)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Radiohead – Go to Sleep". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "Radiohead – Go to Sleep" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Radiohead Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Radiohead – Go to Sleep". Tracklisten. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "Radiohead: Go to Sleep" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  12. ↑ "Radiohead – Go to Sleep" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Go to Sleep | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  15. ↑ "Radiohead – Go to Sleep". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  16. ↑ "Radiohead – Go to Sleep" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  17. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 30/8/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  18. ↑ "Radiohead – Go to Sleep". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 30/8/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  20. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 30/8/2003 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  21. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 August 2003. p. 27. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1517. 15 August 2021. p. 24. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st September 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 1 September 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2003. Retrieved 8 September 2021.