This song emerged from a period of intense stress and disillusionment for the singer, Thom Yorke, following the success of Radiohead's previous album. He found himself suffering from writer's block and a deep weariness with rock music, turning instead to electronic sounds for inspiration. The lyrics, which Yorke insisted were not gibberish, directly express the depression he experienced during that time. Playing the melody on piano endlessly became a way for him to meditate out of his depression, marking a significant shift in the band's style and working methods toward a more experimental approach. At its heart, the song embodies a search for equilibrium and peace amidst emotional turmoil.