How to Disappear Completely

About this song

Thom Yorke based the song on a dream in which he floated around the city like a ghost. The chorus drew on advice Michael Stipe of R.E.M. gave him during the OK Computer tour about getting away from everything. The title comes from Doug Richmond's 1986 book on faking one's death and taking on a new identity. In a 2006 BBC interview, Yorke called the song the most beautiful thing the band had ever done.

What it's about

The song captures the dreamlike, out-of-body feeling of fleeting, hallucinatory moments in life. Its instrumentals and vocals blend into an impressionistic effect that carries the mood of Kid A.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 5 other songs, like “Сжигая воспоминания о тебе (Burning memories of you) by 9th Nervous Breakdown”.
• Covered 4 times, including “How to Disappear Completely by W.A.S.T.E. Central (Ft. Final Notice)”.
• Written by Ed O’Brien, Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke and Philip Selway.
• Produced by Nigel Godrich and Radiohead.
• Recorded at Oxfordshire.