"Clocks" is a song by British rock band Coldplay, released on 17 March 2003 via Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom.

[2][3] The singer further developed the song while the other band members supplemented his work with their ideas based on the main piano track, adding the guitars, bass and drums.

After "Clocks" was finished, Harvey came up with the track's outro, but since he could not play guitar, he whistled the melody to guitarist Jonny Buckland.

[4] Coldplay recorded the song very quickly because the schedule of A Rush of Blood to the Head had already been delayed;[1] the album was released two months later.

"[2] The song's title also "metaphorically alludes" to its lyrics, "pushing one to wonder about the world's obsession with time while connecting it to the theory: make the best of it when we’re here, present and alive.

[12] The single was issued with two B-sides: "Animals", which was one of the band's favourite songs performed on tour but was not included in the album, and "Crests of Waves".

Stage effects and blue-red light transitions give the video a surreal feel, while a stoic crowd make up the audience.

Rob Sheffield from the Rolling Stone magazine praised it as one of the album's highlights by saying that "[guitarist] Buckland shines in excellent psychedelic rockers such as 'Clocks'".

[5] David Cheal of The Daily Telegraph commented how the song features a "hypnotic piano riff, a pounding, almost frantic rhythm, and a contagious tune, all building to a gorgeously serene climax with Martin's floaty voice singing.

"[17] Scott Floman, music critic for Goldmine magazine, described the track as "a stunningly pretty piano rocker, absolutely perfect and is simply one of the best songs of the decade".

[26] Many cuts from X&Y feature influences from "Clocks", with Brian Cohen of Billboard magazine noting how it served as a "launching pad" for them in the band's third album: "several of which echo that song either in structure or feel".

[8] The same publication said American singer Jordin Sparks's 2008 single "No Air" "breathes life into the overfamiliar piano line" from "Clocks".

In 2009, French DJ David Guetta in collaboration with Kelly Rowland released the song "When Love Takes Over", which has a piano introduction like that of "Clocks".

A riff similar to "Clocks" was also used for the 2009 song "Shining Down" by Chicagoan hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco and featuring Matthew Santos.

[51][52] In addition, there have been several other dance remixes of "Clocks", including those by Clokx and Deep Dish plus a mashup from Gabriel and Dresden's 2003 Essential Mix which appeared on various P2P networks.