2000 Miles

"2000 Miles" is a song written and released by The Pretenders in 1983 as the preceding single to their 1984 album Learning to Crawl.[2] It was most popular in the UK, where it peaked at No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1983. In the US, it was released as the B-side of both the 7-inch single and 12-inch single remix of the band's hit "Middle of the Road".

"2000 Miles"
Single by Pretenders
from the album Learning to Crawl
B-side"Fast or Slow (The Law's the Law)"
ReleasedNovember 1983
Recorded1983
GenreChristmas, jangle pop, soft rock[1]
Length3:40
LabelReal Records (UK)
Sire Records (US)
Songwriter(s)Chrissie Hynde
Producer(s)Chris Thomas
Pretenders singles chronology
"My City Was Gone"
(1982)		 "2000 Miles"
(1983)		 "Middle of the Road"
(1983)
Gatefold image
Cover image of gatefold single release (Real ARE 20F)

Considered a Christmas song, it has been released on various Christmas compilation albums. While many people believe the song's title and lyrics refer to two long-distance lovers who miss each other over the holidays, it was actually written for James Honeyman-Scott, the group's original guitar player, who died the year before the song was released.

"Robbie McIntosh plays beautifully on '2000 Miles'," singer Chrissie Hynde recalled. "Anything to avoid listening to my voice and my stupid words."[3]

The official video features Hynde dressed as a member of the Salvation Army in a snowy location.

The song frequently reappears in the UK Charts around Christmas time staying in the charts for a few weeks over the Christmas period.[4]

Dave Marsh, in his 1989 book The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made, ranked "2000 Miles"' as the 630th best rock or soul single to that date, and one of four songs by The Pretenders listed in the book.[5]

References
  1. "How far would you travel for love? 14 songs that go the distance". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  2. Buskin, Richard (5 September 2005). "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Pretenders 'Back On The Chain Gang' Producer: Chris Thomas • Engineer: Steve Churchyard". Soundonsound.com. SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019. The remainder of the Learning To Crawl album was recorded and mixed through the end of 1983, with plenty of breaks interspersing the sessions while Hynde came up with new material, the last of which was that ethereally beautiful Christmas number '2000 Miles'.
  3. Select, July 1990
  4. "2000 miles - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
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