Like a Motorway

"Like a Motorway" is a 1994 song by the British pop group Saint Etienne. The song combines the melody from the nineteenth century folk song "Silver Dagger" with a driving techno beat influenced by Kraftwerk and Snap!. It describes a friend whose lover has mysteriously vanished.[2]

"Like a Motorway"
Single by Saint Etienne
from the album Tiger Bay
B-side	"Sushi Rider" "You Know I'll Miss You When You're Gone"
Released	16 May 1994[1]
Genre	Techno folk
Length	3:38
Label	Heavenly (HVN 40)
Songwriter(s)	Bob Stanley Pete Wiggs
Producer(s)	Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Pale Movie" (1994) "Like a Motorway" (1994) "Hug My Soul" (1994)
Music video
"Like a Motorway" on YouTube

"Like a Motorway" appears on the album Tiger Bay. It was released as a single in May 1994,[3] and reached #47 on the UK Singles Chart. The US release of Tiger Bay also features an "alternate version" with more complex percussion and electric guitar stings. It also appears on the original soundtrack for the 1994 film, Speed, although the single is never heard in the actual film itself.[4]

The cover art for the single features an abandoned car overgrown with foliage. The video consists of a long, slow zoom in Sarah Cracknell as she sings against a black background, intercut with occasional rapid shots of Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley in a car.

Critical reception

Dave Thompson from AllMusic described the song as "mysteriously Kraftwerk-ian".[5] Another editor, Tim Sendra said it is "one of Saint Etienne's best songs".[6] Larry Flick from Billboard commented that it "has a nice sing-along chorus. Sarah Cracknell uses her girlish, light voice well, and has grown into a polished front person..."[7] Jim Wirth from NME called it "teutonic".[8]

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Stanley and Wiggs; except where indicated.

7": Heavenly / HVN 40 and MC: Heavenly / HVN40C

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Like a Motorway (Radio Edit)"		3:38
2.	"You Know I'll Miss You When You're Gone"	Cracknell, Bund	2:57
3.	"Sushi Rider"	Cracknell, Bund	2:57

12": Heavenly / HVN 40 12 and CD: Heavenly / HVN40CD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Like a Motorway (Radio Edit)" (mixed by Rick Smith from Underworld)	3:38
2.	"Like a Motorway (Chekhov Warp Dub)" (mixed by Dust Brothers)	9:18
3.	"Like a Motorway (The David Holmes Mix)"	13:01
4.	"Like a Motorway (Skin Up, You're Already Dead)" (mixed by Autechre)	8:47

12": Heavenly / HVN 40 12 P II (UK Promo)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Like a Motorway (Chekhov Warp Dub)" (mixed by Dust Brothers)	9:18
2.	"Like a Motorway (Chekhov Warp Mix)" (mixed by Dust Brothers)	9:03

CD: Warner Bros. / PRO-A-6962 (US Promo)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Like a Motorway (Alternate Version)" (mixed by Daniel Abraham)	5:26
2.	"Like a Motorway (Alternate Version Edit)" (mixed by Daniel Abraham)	3:06
3.	"Like a Motorway"	5:43
4.	"Like a Motorway (Radio Edit)"	3:38

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	47

References

2. Plagenhoef, Scott; Schreiber, Ryan, eds. (November 2008). The Pitchfork 500. Simon & Schuster. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-4165-6202-3.
3. "Like A Motorway UK 1994 Heavenly Records". www.saintetiennedisco.com. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
4. http://www.allmusic.com/song/like-a-motorway-mt0009829833
5. Thompson, Dave. "Saint Etienne – Tiger Bay". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
6. Sendra, Tim. "Saint Etienne – Like a Motorway". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
7. Flick, Larry (14 May 1994). "Dance Trax: Jacqueline Won't Let Go; Denise Johnson On Rise" (PDF). Billboard. p. 38. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
8. Wirth, Jim. "ST ETIENNE – London Kentish Town Forum". NME. Retrieved 24 November 2020.