"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" is a song written and performed by Scottish duo

the Proclaimers The Proclaimers are a Scottish Rock music, rock duo formed in 1983 by twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid (born 5 March 1962). They came to attention with their 1987 single "Letter from America (song), Letter from America", which reached No. 3 ...

, and first released in August 1988 by

Chrysalis A pupa (; : pupae) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their life cycle, the stages the ...

as the lead single from their second album, '' Sunshine on Leith'' (1988). The song reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart on its initial release and topped the charts of Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand. In 1993, following its appearance in the American film ''

Benny & Joon ''Benny & Joon'' is a 1993 American romantic comedy-Drama (film and television), drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about how two eccentric individuals, Sam (Johnny Depp) and Juniper ("Joon") (Mary Stuart Masterson), find each other and f ...

'', the song was released in North America. It reached number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the United States in August 1993 as well as number eight on the ''Billboard''

Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks between 1988 and 2009, and Alternative Songs between 2009 and 2020) is a music chart published in the American magazine ''Billboard'' since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-playe ...

chart, number 25 on the ''Billboard''

Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

chart; and number four in Canada. In 2007, the Proclaimers re-recorded the song with English comedians

Peter Kay Peter John Kay (born 2 July 1973) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and director. Born and raised in Farnworth, Kay studied media performance at the University of Salford and later began working part-time as a stand-up comedian. In 199 ...

and

Matt Lucas Matthew Richard Lucas (born 5 March 1974) is an English actor, comedian, writer and television host. He is best known for his work with David Walliams on the BBC sketch comedy series ''Little Britain (TV series), Little Britain'' (2003–2006) ...

for the UK's

Comic Relief Comic Relief is a British charity, founded in 1986 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Sir Lenny Henry in response to the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The concept of Comic Relief was to get British comedians to make t ...

charity telethon, scoring a number one hit in the UK and outperforming their original UK chart run. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" has become a live staple at the Proclaimers' concerts. The duo played it at Edinburgh 50,000 – The Final Push at

Murrayfield Stadium Murrayfield Stadium is a rugby union stadium located in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh, Scotland. The stadium is owned by the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) who has its headquarters based at the stadium, and is the national stadium of the Scotla ...

on 6 July 2005, the final concert of

Live 8 Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, from 6–8 July 2005 ...

, to symbolise the conclusion of "The Long Walk to Justice".

Background

The song was mainly written by the duo in 1988 while they were sitting in a flat in Edinburgh waiting to play a gig in Aberdeen. Craig Reid has said that the band's earnings from the song are about five times more than the rest of their catalogue combined.

Critical reception

The Stud Brothers from ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

'' said, "The Proclaimers are a real pick-up, the sonic equivalent of a warm and welcome blanketbath. ..Jolly good show chaps." Pan-European magazine ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later m ...

'' wrote, "We have to get used to this, the acoustic Scottish duo being supported by a full line-up of instruments. Produced by

Pete Wingfield William Peter Wingfield (born 7 May 1948) is an English record producer, Keyboardist, keyboard player, songwriter, singer, and music journalism, music journalist. Career Whilst at Sussex University, Wingfield and three other students formed ...

, this highly rhythmic pop song is a taster to the forthcoming LP, '' Sunshine On Leith''." Jane Solanas from ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'' commented, "This is a rousing, romantic ditty that is slightly less brain-torturing than ' Letter from America', but only just. It's real fairisle jumper, bushy beards, and beer in a tankard time. Acid use has not touched The Proclaimers."

Later success

Originally recorded and released in 1988, the song's success was initially limited mostly to the United Kingdom and Australia. Later in 1993, it was included as one of the main themes of the 1993 American

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...

film ''

'' starring

Johnny Depp John Christopher Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Johnny Depp, multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for ...

and

Mary Stuart Masterson Mary Stuart Masterson (born June 28, 1966) is an American actress and director. After making her acting debut as a Child actor, child in The Stepford Wives (1975 film), ''The Stepford Wives'' (1975), Masterson took a ten-year hiatus to focus on ...

; subsequently, due to the exposure it received through the film, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" reached the top three on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart during the summer of that year.

Track listings

All tracks were written and composed by Charlie and Craig Reid, except where noted. * 7-inch single # "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" – 3:37 # "Better Days" – 3:14 * 12-inch single # "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" – 3:37 # "Better Days" – 3:14 # "Teardrops" – 2:33 * CD single # "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" – 3:37 # "Better Days" – 3:14 # "Teardrops" – 2:33 # "I Can't Be Myself" (

Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in country music, he was a central pioneer of the Bakersfield ...

) – 2:30

Personnel

* Craig Reid – lead vocals, tambourine * Charlie Reid – backing vocals, acoustic guitar Additional personnel *

Jerry Donahue Jerry Donahue (born September 24, 1946, Manhattan, New York City) is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of ...

– electric guitar *

– keyboards * Phil Cranham – bass guitar *

Dave Mattacks David James Mattacks (born 13 March 1948) is an English rock and folk drummer, best known for his work with British folk rock band Fairport Convention. Fairport Convention He replaced Martin Lamble, who had died on 12 May 1969 in a road ac ...

– drums * Paul Robinson – drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Comic Relief version

In 2007, the Proclaimers re-recorded the song with

and

as their characters Brian Potter from ''

Phoenix Nights '' Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights'', sometimes shortened to ''Phoenix Nights'', is a British sitcom about The Phoenix Club, a working men's club in the northern English town of Bolton, Greater Manchester. The show is a spin-off from the "In th ...

'' and Andy Pipkin from '' Little Britain'' respectively. There is a slight change in the title of the song, with the parentheses placed around "(I'm Gonna Be)" rather than "(500 Miles)". The lyrics also include a change, with the words "roll 500 miles" replacing "walk 500 miles", because the characters Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin are both in wheelchairs. "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles" was released as a

charity single A charity record, charity album, or charity single is a recording with most or all proceeds raised going to a dedicated foundation or charity. In 1956, The Lord's Taverners released a 78 rpm disc which contained six tracks donated by popular artis ...

for

immediately following its performance on the ''Comic Relief 2007: The Big One'' television show on

BBC1 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and Flagship (broadcasting), flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includ ...

on 16 March 2007. It reached number 3 on the official UK Singles Chart on download sales alone, and one week later reached number 1, where it remained for three weeks. It sold 126,000 copies in its first week, making it the biggest-selling number one of the year up to that point. Its sales were double that of the official Comic Relief single by

Girls Aloud Girls Aloud are a British-Irish pop music, pop girl group that was created through the ITV (TV network), ITV talent show ''Popstars: The Rivals'' in 2002. The line up consisted of members Cheryl (singer), Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, N ...

vs.

Sugababes The Sugababes are an English girl group composed of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, and Siobhán Donaghy. The lineup changed three times before returning to the original lineup in 2011. Formed in 1998 by Ron Tom, the manager of All Saints, ...

, and their cover of

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...

's "

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". The song ended 2007 as the year's 8th biggest-selling single in the UK. The song was popular in Ireland as well and peaked at #7 in

Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is the Republic of Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) and compiled on their behalf by the Official Charts Company. Chart rankings are ...

. Kay also directed a video clip of the song featuring himself as Brian Potter, Lucas as Andy,

David Walliams David Edward Williams (born 20 August 1971), known professionally as David Walliams (), is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television personality. He is best known for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch comedy series '' Little ...

as Lou, The Proclaimers and an audience of celebrity guests, comprising Johnny Ball,

David Beckham Sir David Robert Joseph Beckham ( ; born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Primarily a right winger and known for his range of passing, cross ...

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, Dusty Bin,

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, Stan Boardman,

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, Holly Willoughby, Bucks Fizz, Cannon and Ball, Bob Carolgees & Spit the Dog,

Jasper Carrott Robert Norman Davis (born 14 March 1945), known by his stage name, Jasper Carrott, is an English comedian, writer, actor, singer and television presenter. His credits include '' An Audience With Jasper Carrott'' (1978), '' The Secret Policeman ...

, Keith Chegwin,

Jimmy Cricket James Mulgrew (born 17 October 1945), known professionally as Jimmy Cricket, is a Northern Irish comedian. He first came to prominence as a comedian in the 1970s and has had his own shows on television and radio. Early life and career Cricket ...

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, Bobby Davro (referred to in the lyrics), Carol Decker,

Sally Dynevor Sally Jane Dynevor (née Whittaker; born 30 May 1963) is an English actress, she is best known for her role as Sally Metcalfe in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', which she has played since 1986. In 2022, Dynevor competed in the fourt ...

Lesley Garrett Lesley Garrett, CBE (born 10 April 1955) is an English soprano singer, musician, broadcaster and media personality who is noted for being at home in opera and "crossover music". Early life Garrett was born in the town of Thorne, near Doncas ...

, Clare Grogan, Paul Henry,

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, Siobhan Redmond (credited as "Her off ''

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''"),

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The Krankies The Krankies are a Scottish comedy duo who enjoyed success as a cabaret act in the 1970s and on television in the 1980s, featuring in their own television shows and making pop records. Since this period, they have also regularly appeared in pan ...

, Nick Hancock, Burt Kwouk,

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, Eddie Large,

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, Amanda Mealing, Terry Nutkins,

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, Wendi Peters,

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, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Rupert the Bear,

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, Sonia,

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, Dave Lee Travis, Roy Walker,

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, Lizzie Webb,

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and Gary Wilmot.

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(then still a fugitive terrorist), Lord Lucan (missing since 1974) and Shergar (a kidnapped racehorse) are also falsely credited as appearing in the video.

Track listing

*CD single # "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles" – 3:41 # "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (1988 Original Version) – 3:37 The enhanced CD and DVD also featured the promotional video for the song and a photo gallery.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1988 songs 1988 singles 1993 singles 2007 singles The Proclaimers songs British alternative rock songs Celtic rock songs Chrysalis Records singles Comic Relief singles EMI Records singles Association football songs and chants Number-one singles in Australia Number-one singles in Iceland Number-one singles in New Zealand Number-one singles in Scotland Scotland national football team songs Song recordings produced by Pete Wingfield UK singles chart number-one singles