Never There (Cake song)

Content

According to Cake vocalist John McCrea, the lyrics of "Never There" are sung from the viewpoint of a boy who is frustrated that his girlfriend never answers his phone calls. The boyfriend believes he will not make it through life without her, but in reality, he needs to focus on his own concerns instead. McCrea has described "Never There" as "a country song in disguise".

Chart performance

The song spent three weeks at number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, surpassing "The Distance" (which peaked at number four) as the band's highest-charting single. "Never There" was the band's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 78. In Iceland, the song was a top-10 hit, peaking at number nine in November 1998. The song also charted in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, reaching numbers 75, 42, and 66, respectively.

Music video

The music video for "Never There", directed by McCrea, features Cake performing in a western-style bar, while a story arc covers a trucker calling his girlfriend on a pay phone and she never answers as she is too busy partying with male body builders in speedos. It was filmed in Sacramento, California.

Track listings

US and European CD single

1. "Never There" (LP version) – 2:44
2. "Cool Blue Reason" (LP version) – 3:27

UK 7-inch single :A. "Never There" – 2:44 :B. "I Will Survive" – 5:11

UK CD1

1. "Never There" (LP version)
2. "Cool Blue Reason" (LP version)
3. "Is This Love?" (live)
4. "Never There" (video) UK CD2
5. "Never There" (LP version) – 2:44
6. "The Distance" (LP version) – 3:01
7. "You Part the Waters" (live) – 2:50
8. "The Distance" (video) – 3:04

Australian CD single

1. "Never There" (LP version) – 2:44
2. "Cool Blue Reason" (LP version) – 3:27
3. "Half as Much" – 2:54

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the European CD single and Prolonging the Magic liner notes.

Studios

• Recorded at Pus Cavern, Paradise Studios (Sacramento, California), Hyde St. Studios, and Coast Recorders (San Francisco, California)
• Mastered at Precision Mastering (Los Angeles) Cake
• John McCrea – writing, vocals, acoustic guitar, production
• Vincent Di Fiore – trumpet, background vocals
• Todd Roper – drums, background vocals
• Gabriel Nelson – bass guitar
• Xan McCurdy – electric guitar Other personnel
• Kirt Shearer – mixing
• Craig Long – mixing
• Don C. Tyler – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. Brian Galindo, Alex Naidus & Ryan Creed. (November 5, 2023). "37 Alt Rock Songs You Haven't Thought About Since The Late '90s".
2. "Triple J Hottest 100 1998". [[Australian Broadcasting Company]].
3. Bell, Carrie. (October 10, 1998). "The Modern Age".
4. (October 17, 1998). "Production Notes".
5. (1998). "Never There". [[Capricorn Records]].
6. (1998). "Never There". Capricorn Records.
7. (1999). "Never There". Capricorn Records, [[Mercury Records]].
8. (1999). "Never There". Capricorn Records, Mercury Records.
9. (1999). "Never There". Capricorn Records, Mercury Records.
10. "Australian-charts.com – Cake – Never There". [[ARIA Charts.
11. (1998). "Prolonging the Magic". Capricorn Records.
12. Ryan, Gavin. (2011). "Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010". Moonlight Publishing.
13. (November 27, 1998). "Íslenski Listinn (27.11–4.11. 1998)". [[DV (newspaper).
14. (December 25, 1998). "Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1998".
15. (December 24, 1999). "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999".
16. (December 25, 1999). "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks".
17. (October 16, 1998). "New Releases".
18. (April 17, 1999). "New Releases – For Week Starting 19 April, 1999: Singles".