Last year, we delved into a relatively obscure closing track from a famous Christmas album. This year, we're shifting focus to a renowned Christmas song from a less celebrated album.
‘2000 Miles’ by The Pretenders is a song that, over the years, has become closely associated with the Christmas season. However, its origins and themes are more complex and poignant than your typical holiday fare. Released as a single in November 1983, it featured on the band's third album, Learning to Crawl, released in January 1984.
On a cursory first listen, ‘2000 Miles’ seems like a quintessential Christmas song, with its jingle bells and references to the festive season, certainly enough for both Coldplay and Train to work with.
The song's more profound significance is rooted in the personal loss felt by Chrissie Hynde, The Pretenders' lead singer and songwriter. It is commonly interpreted as a homage to James Honeyman-Scott, the band's original guitarist, whose untimely death due to a drug overdose occurred in 1982. This tragic event, alongside other upheavals within the band, led to a hiatus following the release of their 1981 album, The Pretenders II.
When The Pretenders returned with Learning to Crawl, the album's title reflected the developmental stage of Hynde's daughter, Natalie, and symbolised the band's journey through their challenging period. The deaths of Honeyman-Scott and, subsequently, in 1983, of sacked bassist Pete Farndon meant that the band was undergoing significant changes, making it unsuitable to continue the sequential naming convention with a III for their next album.
This new version of the band had Hynde and founding member Martin Chambers on drums now alongside Robbie McIntosh and Malcolm Forster on guitar and bass, respectively. Despite all the turmoil, it still contains some A-grade material with ‘Back On The Chain Gang’ and a cover of The Persuaders' classic ‘It’s A Thin Line Between Love and Hate’.
The lyrics of the closing track, with the themes of distance and longing, reflect a sense of loss and yearning. "He's gone 2000 miles, it's very far" could be interpreted as referring to a lover separated by the literal distance of an ocean and the metaphorical distance created by Honeyman-Scott's passing. The song captures the bittersweet emotions of remembering a loved one during the holidays - a time most associate with joy and togetherness but hear punctuated with the opposite.
Musically, ‘2000 Miles’ showcases a softer, more melodic side of The Pretenders. Hynde's warm and melancholy voice perfectly suits the song's reflective mood. While subtle, McIntosh's chiming guitar work adds a layer of richness to the track, maintaining the band's rock essence while exploring a gentler sound and those crisp bell sounds ringing out.
Over time, the song has gained popularity as a Christmas song, played frequently during the holiday season. Its melody and seasonal references make it a fitting tune for the time of year. At the same time, its deeper, more sombre undertones offer a more reflective take on the festive period, resonating with those who may be missing loved ones. It does, at least, see enough in the tank to make it an actual Christmas song and not like some of the festive songs that, like Die Hard, aren’t festive in and of themselves but were released at Christmas and have picked up the holiday spirit by osmosis1.
The song's enduring appeal lies in this blend of (actual) festive cheer and emotional depth, making it a poignant addition to the canon of Christmas music. It stands out as a song that captures the joy of the season while acknowledging the sadness that can accompany it, making it relatable to a broad audience and ensuring its place as a holiday favourite for many years.
The Run Out Grooves will be back looking at album closers in the new year; I’m planning a couple of posts, one before Christmas looking back at 2023’s editions and a paid post looking at 2023’s closing tracks.
I’m looking at Paul McCartney’s Frieheit’s ‘Keeping The Dream Alive’, ‘Stay Another Day’ by East 17 and ‘Stop The Cavalry’ by Jona Lewie. I see you all in the holiday playlists; I know what you are doing. What next, Radiohead’s ‘Airbag’? That’s got bells.
It's become one of my Top 10 festive songs.