The composition I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) is one of those songs that sink into the soul for a long time and make you hum them, even if you don’t really like this activity. However, what is surprising? A cool catchy melody, an unusual manner of performance, touching words, as well as an incomparable Scottish accent and the charisma of the performers – is this not enough to win the hearts of millions of lovers of good music.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
The track is performed by The Proclaimers, consisting of twin brothers Craig Reid and Charlie Reid. The composition was born in 1988.
Craig Reid told how he composed the song:
I remember sitting at the piano and the chords just came to me. I think it took me forty-five minutes to write it all. I knew it was a good song, maybe even a single, but I had no idea how popular it would become” (Daily Mail, 2007).
Release and achievements
The song was recorded in 1988. It first appeared on the album Sunshine on Leith and was later released as a single. I’m Gonna Be peaked at number 11 in the UK and topped the ARIA Charts in Australia.
The international popularity of the song I’m Gonna Be contributed to its inclusion in the soundtrack of the film “Benny and June” (1993) with Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson in the lead roles. It is said that Masterson, who listened to the album Sunshine on Leith in the player throughout the filming period, convinced the producers to use the composition in a melodrama.
After the film’s release, I’m Gonna Be climbed to number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In addition, I’m Gonna Be sounds in Shrek, Family Guy, Angels’ Share, How I Met Your Mother and other TV shows, cartoons and feature films. It is often used during charity marathons.
In I’m Gonna Be, you can clearly hear the motives of Scottish drinking songs, which are sung in chorus in pubs by tipsy visitors. I don’t know how often it is played in such establishments, but at football matches in Scotland it is sung regularly.
But not everyone is crazy about I’m Gonna Be. So, in the list of the 100 worst songs of all time according to AOL Radio, she takes 50th place.
Video I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Let’s watch the video clip to the most famous song of The Proclaimers.
Interesting Facts
- One Liu Peiwen from China walked a distance of one thousand miles, taking seriously the words of his girlfriend, who, upon hearing the song, joked that she would marry him if he could do it for her.
- The version of the song I’m Gonna Be, recorded with the participation of popular comedians for the Comic Relief charity program, was very popular in the UK.
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) Lyrics by The Proclaimers
When I wake up, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yeah, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
If I get drunk, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver, hey, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you
But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
to fall down at your door
When I’m working, yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I do
I’ll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home (When I come home), oh, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s growing old with you
When I’m lonely, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s lonely without you
And when I’m dreaming, well, I know I’m gonna dream
I’m gonna dream about the time when I’m with you
When I go out (When I go out), well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
And when I come home (When I come home), yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I’m gonna be the man who’s coming home with you
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) Lyrics Alternative
When I wake up, well I know what I’m about to do
I’m going to be the one who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yes I know I’m going
I’m going to be the one to go with you
If I get drunk, what, I know what I’m going to
I’m going to be the one who gets drunk next to you
And if I’m talking nonsense, hey, I know what I’m going to
I’m going to be the one who talks nonsense to you
But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would go another five hundred,
Just to be the one who walked a thousand miles
To fall at your door
When I work, yes I know what I’m going to
I’m gonna be the one who works hard for you
And when my work is paid
I’ll give you almost everything to the penny
When I get home, oh I know what I’m going to
I’m gonna be the one who comes home to you
And if I get old, well I know I’m going to
I’m going to be the one to grow old with you
When I’m lonely, well I know what I’m going to
I’m going to be the one who’s lonely without you
And when I dream, well I know I’m going
I’m going to dream of a time when I’ll be with you
When I go out, yes I know I’m going
I’m going to be the one to go with you
When I get home, yes I know I’m going
I’m going to be the one who comes home to you
I’m gonna be the one to go home with you
