The song was their first single released in over three years, after none were taken from their previous studio album Kid A (2000).
In a 2001 interview with David Fricke in Rolling Stone magazine, guitarist Ed O'Brien said he felt it was "the best song we've recorded."
Drummer Phil Selway said the song "ran counter to what had come before in Radiohead in lots of ways ... The constituent parts are all quite simple, but I think the way that they then blend gives real depth to the song."
"Pyramid Song" peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart, and NME named it their "single of the week".
Rolling Stone placed it at number 94 on their list of the "100 Best Songs of the Decade".