Never There (Cake song)


"Never There" is the first single released from American alternative rock band Cake's third studio album, Prolonging the Magic. The song was commercially successful, topping the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and appearing on the music charts of four other countries. In Australia, the song was ranked at number 30 on the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown for 1998.

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" 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" – 2:44
  2. "Cool Blue Reason" – 3:27
UK 7-inch single
UK CD1
  1. "Never There"
  2. "Cool Blue Reason"
  3. "Is This Love?"
  4. "Never There"
UK CD2
  1. "Never There" – 2:44
  2. "The Distance" – 3:01
  3. "You Part the Waters" – 2:50
  4. "The Distance" – 3:04
Australian CD single
  1. "Never There" – 2:44
  2. "Cool Blue Reason" – 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
Cake
Other personnel
  • Kirt Shearer – mixing
  • Craig Long – mixing
  • Don C. Tyler – mastering

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
US Adult Top 40 64
US Modern Rock Tracks 7