"Don't Panic" is the fourth single from Coldplay's debut album, Parachutes. Regional singles included Europe, France, the Netherlands (single and live EP), Denmark (live EP), and Australia. The UK only received a promo edition. The album version of "Don't Panic" is featured on all versions of the single. The UK promo peaked at a disappointing #130 on the UK singles chart, but subsequently appeared on the hits-packed UK album Now That's What I Call Music! 48.

"Don't Panic" is the opening track to Parachutes and is a guitar-based song. It was originally called "Panic" m1285/is_7_33/ai_105735865" target="_blank">http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_7_33/ai_105735865 and was one of six songs played at Coldplay's first concert in 1998. Eventually, the title became "Don't Panic", taken from _Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The song is often mistakenly referred to as "Beautiful World" due to the lyrical content.

The original version of the "Don't Panic" was recorded in July 1999. There are several differences between this and the final album version. First, Chris Martin plays the piano during the bridge. As well, there is a feedback-distorted introduction and some modified lyrics. This version was released on The Blue Room (EP).

On the A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour, "Don't Panic" contained an entirely different introduction. In addition, Martin played the electric guitar and Jon Buckland performed a harmonica solo during the bridge. He regularly threw the harmonica into the crowd after the solo.

In 2002, the song was featured on the Igby Goes Down soundtrack. In 2004, it was on the popular Garden State soundtrack, and received persistent exposure in Australia for over a year when it was used by Australia's Network Ten in a series of promotional ads that ran before and after most shows, featuring its programming and personalities. The song was also featured on the debut episode of the FX TV series Rescue Me as well as the pilot episode of the short-lived show Odyssey 5. Additionally the song featured in episode nine of the first series on the UK TV Series Sugar Rush in 2005, and was subsequently included on the CD soundtrack of songs featured in the show.

It is said that Chris Martin sing some parts of the Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" lyrics when it's played live.