Go to Sleep
Encyclopedia
"Go to Sleep" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead
, released as the second single
from their sixth album Hail to the Thief
in 2003. The song has an initial time signature of 4/4, which alternates with 6/8 time throughout the duration of the song. The alternate title for the song as listed on the track listing for the album is Little Man Being Erased. A number twelve hit in the UK, it also reached number thirty-nine on the Australian ARIA Charts
.
but played by Thom Yorke
. After 11 bars of guitar and vocals, the rest of the band comes in. In the second half of the song the time signature remains in 4/4 and the guitars change to a different riff; the song fades out with a guitar solo
played by Jonny Greenwood
.
The guitar-work at the end of this track was achieved by Jonny Greenwood playing a sequence of random notes on his guitar that were being processed through a digital patch for software called Max/MSP, which is musical software frequently used by electronica or experimental artists.
A similar solo to that heard in live versions of "Go to Sleep" was played by Adrian Belew
on the 1980 Talking Heads
song "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)," though it was generated through different technology. Radiohead have cited the album Remain in Light
on which the song appears as a major inspiration on their work in general.
, the CGI
-animated video shows a full-blossom red rose swaying in the wind, and proceeds to show Yorke sitting on a park bench singing the song while around him men and women in business suits walk by rapidly. In the middle of the video, the buildings, in classical architecture
style, spontaneously crumble into pieces and moments later reassemble themselves, only to have become modern
in style. The shot returns to the rose shown in the beginning, which is now closed in a bud.
song. "I Am a Wicked Child" is a blues
song with harmonica
work by Jonny Greenwood.
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, released as the second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from their sixth album Hail to the Thief
Hail to the Thief
Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2003 through Parlophone Records. After two Radiohead albums that featured heavily processed vocals, less guitar, and strong influence from experimental electronica and jazz, Hail to the Thief was seen...
in 2003. The song has an initial time signature of 4/4, which alternates with 6/8 time throughout the duration of the song. The alternate title for the song as listed on the track listing for the album is Little Man Being Erased. A number twelve hit in the UK, it also reached number thirty-nine on the Australian ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
.
Musical structure
"Go to Sleep" starts in 10/4 (4/4 + 6/4) with an acoustic guitar riff written by Ed O'BrienEd O'Brien
Edward John O'Brien is an English musician, songwriter and guitarist for the rock band Radiohead. He is also responsible for harmony vocals during live concerts and on many tracks from the band's albums...
but played by Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
. After 11 bars of guitar and vocals, the rest of the band comes in. In the second half of the song the time signature remains in 4/4 and the guitars change to a different riff; the song fades out with a guitar solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
played by Jonny Greenwood
Jonny Greenwood
Jonathan Richard Guy "Jonny" Greenwood is an English musician and composer, best known as a member of the English rock band Radiohead. Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist, but serves mainly as lead guitarist and keyboard player. In addition to guitar and keyboard, he plays viola, harmonica,...
.
The guitar-work at the end of this track was achieved by Jonny Greenwood playing a sequence of random notes on his guitar that were being processed through a digital patch for software called Max/MSP, which is musical software frequently used by electronica or experimental artists.
A similar solo to that heard in live versions of "Go to Sleep" was played by Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer...
on the 1980 Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
song "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)," though it was generated through different technology. Radiohead have cited the album Remain in Light
Remain in Light
Remain in Light is the fourth studio album by American New Wave band Talking Heads, released on 8 October 1980 on Sire Records. It was recorded at locations in the Bahamas and the United States between July and August 1980 and was produced by the quartet's long-time collaborator...
on which the song appears as a major inspiration on their work in general.
Music video
Directed by Alex RutterfordAlex Rutterford
Alex Rutterford is a British director and graphic designer working mostly on music videos. He studied graphic design at the Croydon School of Art and graduated in 1991. He started his professional career by designing graphics on sets for films such as Judge Dredd. He was a member of the design team...
, the CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
-animated video shows a full-blossom red rose swaying in the wind, and proceeds to show Yorke sitting on a park bench singing the song while around him men and women in business suits walk by rapidly. In the middle of the video, the buildings, in classical architecture
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
style, spontaneously crumble into pieces and moments later reassemble themselves, only to have become modern
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
in style. The shot returns to the rose shown in the beginning, which is now closed in a bud.
Track listings
The b-sides for the single are "Gagging Order" and "I Am a Wicked Child." The former is a solo acoustic guitarAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
song. "I Am a Wicked Child" is a blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
song with harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
work by Jonny Greenwood.
UK Versions
- CD 1 CDR6613
- "Go to Sleep"
- "I Am Citizen Insane"
- "Fog (Again)" (Live)
- CD 2 CDRS6613
- "Go to Sleep"
- "Gagging Order"
- "I Am a Wicked Child"
- 12" 12R6613
- "Go to Sleep"
- "I Am Citizen Insane"
- "I Am a Wicked Child"
US Version
- CD 52953 released 3 September 2003 by Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
- "Go to Sleep"
- "Gagging Order"
- "I Am a Wicked Child"
- 12" R-19218
- "Go to Sleep"
- "I Am Citizen Insane"
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
2 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 9 |
| Ireland Singles Chart | 11 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 11 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
12 |
| Finland Singles Chart | 14 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 39 |
| Dutch Singles Chart Mega Single Top 100 The Single Top 100 is a Dutch chart, based on official physical single sales and legal downloads and composed by MegaCharts. It is one of the three official charts, the other two being the Dutch Top 40 and the Mega Top 50. The difference is that these charts also include airplay data.The list is... |
55 |
| German Singles Chart | 82 |
| French Singles Chart | 87 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 90 |
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Modern Rock Tracks |
32 |