 "Witness (1 Hope)" was first released to CD, 12-inch and 7-inch vinyl as well as digital retailers in the United Kingdom on 1 July 2001 via record label Ninja Tune.Fellow label Big Dada began distributing it themselves as a 12-inch single on 23 July 2001, as well as a CD maxi single on 30 July 2001.It entered the UK Singles Chart on the chart dated 4 August 2001, but left the chart after only two further weeks on it, during which time it peaked at number 45.