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From album
OK Computer
Radiohead · 1997 · Track 5
Details
TonalidadE
Compás4/4
Tempo138 BPM
Duración4:59
CompositorColin Greenwood / Ed O'Brien / Jonny Greenwood / Phil Selway / Thom Yorke
ÁlbumOK Computer
Año1997
ISRCGBAYE9701374
Credits
Music Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway, Thom Yorke
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The story behind
The recording of *Let Down* had an almost mystical moment. It happened at three in the morning in the ballroom of St Catherine's Court, a mansion in Bath. There, in the middle of the night, the band and producer Nigel Godrich found the creative spark. The song's sound draws on the venue's own acoustic characteristics, taking advantage of its natural reverberation. One of the most notable peculiarities is how Jonny Greenwood recorded his guitar part in a different time signature than the rest of the instruments, creating a phasing effect inspired by American composer Steve Reich. Additionally, an arpeggio generated by a ZX Spectrum computer was incorporated, a detail that intertwines with Thom Yorke's vocals in the third verse, where he dialogues with himself through the stereo field.
The lyrics of *Let Down* explore the feeling of disconnection and disappointment in modern life. Thom Yorke described the song as being about the fear of feeling trapped, especially in transit situations where one has no control, passing through countless places and people without feeling part of it. The idea of "hanging onto bottles" came from a humorous thought by Yorke, imagining a scenario where the only way to stay upright was to cling to drink bottles. The song also reflects on the overload of artificial emotions, such as those perceived in advertising or pop music, contrasting with an emotional authenticity that feels elusive. Guitarist Ed O'Brien even described *Let Down* as the "emotional heart" of the album *OK Computer*. It was originally considered as the album's first single, but *Paranoid Android* was ultimately chosen. Despite not having a wide commercial release at the time, the song proved its longevity, achieving popularity on digital platforms and music charts in 2025, almost thirty years after its initial release.