Round Here


"Round Here" is a song by American rock band Counting Crows, released as the second single from their debut album, August and Everything After, on May 23, 1994, by Geffen Records. The song's origin predates the formation of Counting Crows, when the band's future frontman Adam Duritz wrote the song with the Himalayans members Dan Jewett, Chris Roldan and Dave Janusko.
Despite not charting on the US Billboard Hot 100 due to rules in place at the time, "Round Here" peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number seven on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song also reached the top 20 in Canada and Iceland, peaking at number six in the former country and number 12 in the latter. The accompanying music video was directed by Mark Neale. In April 2022, American Songwriter ranked the song at number five on their list of "The Top 10 Counting Crows Songs".

Song meaning

Duritz explained on VH1 Storytellers the meaning to the song:
In a concert in Amsterdam for "This Desert Life", on October 17, 1999, Duritz adds,

Composition

The Counting Crows version is a slow and mellow folk rock song. The original by the Himalayans is done in a more "pure" rock style—somewhat harder and faster, with prominent electric guitar and bass parts. In a tradition that has manifested in several Counting Crows songs, the two versions of this song feature somewhat different lyrics. Various live recordings of the song also feature significantly altered lyrics.

Critical reception

Upon the release of the single, Alan Jones from Music Week gave it a score of three out of five, writing, "A finely crafted rock ballad delivered in strong, melancholic style. While it is not really the stuff that daytime radio will embrace, the Crows' growing fanbase will embrace it, not least for the previously unreleased live track, 'The Ghost in You'."

Music video

The music video for "Round Here", directed by British documentarian and film director Mark Neale and executive-produced by Debbie Samuelson, starts with some buildings collapsing and falling down, and it features Adam Duritz singing and walking alone over a railroad tracks. At the same time a man stands in the Dry Lake desert with clocks and watches, a woman walks by the street carrying a sign saying "Nobody Move and Nobody Gets Hurt", and another woman walks with a suitcase by different locations of Los Angeles.

Track listings

UK CD single
  1. "Round Here" – 5:28
  2. "Ghost Train" – 4:01
  3. "The Ghost in You" – 3:30European and Australian CD single
  4. "Round Here" – 5:28
  5. "Rain King" – 5:12
  6. "The Ghost in You" – 3:30

In popular culture