Synopsis

The video stays locked on Thom Yorke's face inside a clear diving helmet as the lyrics scroll upward in reflection. At first, he sings calmly while the frame gradually reveals the surrounding room. Water then begins rising inside the helmet, forcing Yorke to keep performing as his breathing becomes increasingly difficult. Once fully submerged, he remains motionless for an unnervingly long stretch before releasing the water and finishing the song with a relieved smile.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed on November 28, 1997, during the period documented in Radiohead's tour film "Meeting People Is Easy." Footage of the difficult shoot appears in that documentary.

• The concept grew from Grant Gee's response to the lyric "a job that slowly kills you." He also drew on the astronaut imagery of "2001: A Space Odyssey," underwater escape acts, and the television series "UFO."

• Yorke was submerged for real. A specially made perspex helmet allowed water to be pumped in gradually and released quickly in an emergency.

• The sequence was filmed at a higher frame rate, with part of the track sped up during filming and then slowed down for the finished video. This reduced the amount of time Yorke had to hold his breath while keeping the performance synchronized.

• Yorke had reportedly managed to hold his breath for more than a minute in relaxed conditions, but the actual filming was much harder. He struggled to last more than a few seconds during some takes and became increasingly distressed.

• The scrolling lyrics are presented as a reflection on the helmet, echoing the typography used for "OK Computer" and making the viewer feel trapped inside the same confined space.

• The video became one of Radiohead's most recognizable visual statements because it uses almost no conventional music-video imagery: a single face, a fixed camera, reflected text, and a steadily rising threat.