2 + 2 = 5 (song)

Recording

"2 + 2 = 5" is a rock song that builds to a loud climax. It was recorded in 2002 at Ocean Way Recording studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with the producer Nigel Godrich. It was recorded as a studio test and finished in two hours.

Title

The title references the slogan "two plus two equals five" from the 1949 dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.** The alternative title, "The Lukewarm", references Dante's Inferno, in which the "lukewarm" are those in hell who did nothing wrong but did not oppose wrongdoing.

Release

"2 + 2 = 5" was released as the third single from Hail to the Thief on 17 November, 2003. It was included in Radiohead: The Best Of (2008). A live version recorded at Earl's Court, London, was included on the 2004 EP Com Lag and the 2025 album Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003–2009).

Reception

In 2020, the Guardian named the live version of "2 + 2 = 5" the 31st-greatest Radiohead song, writing that it was Thom Yorke's "polemical anthem for the era of mass-broadcast deception and enhanced interrogation techniques".

Track listings

UK CD1 (CDR 6623)

1. "2 + 2 = 5" – 3:19
2. "Remyxomatosis" (Cristian Vogel RMX) – 5:07
3. "There There" (first demo) – 7:43

UK CD2 (CDRS 6623)

1. "2 + 2 = 5" – 3:19
2. "Skttrbrain" (Four Tet remix) – 4:26
3. "I Will" (Los Angeles version) – 2:14

UK DVD single (DVDR 6623)

1. "2 + 2 = 5" – 3:19
2. "Sit Down Stand Up" (Ed Holdsworth's video)
3. "The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time" (excerpt)

Personnel

Radiohead

• Thom Yorke
• Jonny Greenwood
• Colin Greenwood
• Ed O'Brien
• Philip Selway Additional personnel
• Nigel Godrich – production
• Darrell Thorp – engineering
• Stanley Donwood – artwork

Charts

Release history

References

References

1. DeVille, Chris. (10 October 2017). "In Rainbows Turns 10".
2. Lynskey, Dorian. (2011). "33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day". HarperCollins.
3. (29 April 2003). "MAPS AND LEGENDS". NME.
4. (22 April 2003). "Radiohead Hail to the Thief interview CD". [[Parlophone]].
5. Bloom, Madison. (2017-02-21). "10 Songs Inspired by George Orwell's 1984".
6. "Thom Yorke on 'Hail to the Thief'". XFM online.
7. (15 November 2003). "New Releases: Singles".
8. Plagenhoef, Scott. (5 June 2008). "Radiohead: ''The Best Of'' / ''The Best Of [Special Edition]''".
9. Monroe, Jazz. (2025-08-13). "Radiohead release new live album ''Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003—2009)''".
10. Monroe, Jazz. (23 January 2020). "Radiohead's 40 greatest songs – ranked!". [[The Guardian]].
11. [[Radiohead]]. (2003). "2 + 2 = 5". [[Parlophone]].
12. Radiohead. (2003). "2 + 2 = 5". Parlophone.
13. Radiohead. (2003). "2 + 2 = 5". Parlophone.
14. "Radiohead Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)".
15. (15 November 2003). "New Releases: Singles".
16. (24 November 2003). "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 24th November 2003". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].