It follows a unconventional structure, moving from a standard verse-chorus cycle into a transformative coda.
It begins with a "stately" acoustic guitar and a haunting piano melody—the latter of which has been compared to the Beatles’ "Sexy Sadie" .
Thom Yorke has described it as a song "against bosses" and the soul-crushing nature of working for a large firm or "middle management".
The song is a mid-tempo acoustic ballad that showcases Radiohead's ability to blend traditional rock elements with experimental flourishes.
While the title originated as an inside joke within the band—members would jokingly threaten to call the "karma police" if someone was acting like a jerk on tour—the lyrics explore much darker, existential territory.