 During initial recording sessions in Liverpool , vocalist Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland worked alone , and only on weekends . Each Monday , they would present the song ideas that they had developed to their bandmates . With A Rush of Blood to the Head nearly completed , Martin went into the studio late one night and wrote a piano riff that he has stated " just came out " . The band recognised that this early version of the song , that would become " Clocks " , was special the first time Martin played it to them . Reasoning that it was too late to include the song on the album , they recorded a demo version and included it on a CD marked " Songs for # 3 " , featuring unfinished tracks they intended to work on for their third studio album . 
