"The Everlasting" is the second single to be lifted from the Manic Street Preachers's fifth studio album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours. It was released on 30 November 1998 through Epic, it peaked on number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, breaking their run of consecutive top-ten hits. All three members of the band—James Dean Bradfield, Sean Moore and Nicky Wire—share the writing credits.

Background

The title, "The Everlasting", was borrowed from a poem by Nicky Wire's brother Patrick Jones, after Wire had spent some time trying to think of a title similar to Blur's "The Universal" or Joy Division's "The Eternal". "The Everlasting" has been described as grand, elegiac and in some ways quite profoundly sad. The lyric hints at life's diminishing returns as one ages and lose one's idealism. Although some strings and an acoustic guitar were used during the recording process, the song leans quite heavily on synthetic instrumentation, including drum loops and simulated strings. A shortened edit of the song is also featured on the 2002 compilation Forever Delayed.

Release

The single was released on 30 November 1998, peaking at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. It broke their run of five consecutive top-10 hits but stayed on the chart for 12 weeks. Outside the UK the single reached number 47 in the Netherlands, remaining in the chart for five weeks and in Germany it peaked at number 88, remaining on the country's chart for seven weeks. In Iceland, it peaked at number three. The first of two CD singles included "Black Holes for the Young" - a duet with Sophie Ellis-Bextor which is a criticism of London culture - and "Valley Boy". The second CD single featured remixes of "The Everlasting" - "Deadly Avenger Mix" and "Stealth Sonic Orchestra Mix".

Promotional video

The promotional video that accompanied the song was censored because it included shots of people on fire. The original version was considered insensitive as the release of the single coincided with the well-publicised inquest into the death of Michael Menson, who had been set on fire by three men in a street attack. Two versions of the video were therefore produced - one with computer generated flames, one without. The video was filmed at Euston railway station in London.

Track listings

All music was written by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore except where indicated. All were lyrics written by Nick Jones except where indicated. **CD single 1 (UK) Epic 666593 2 ** **CD single 2 (UK) Epic 666686 5 ** **CD single (EU) Epic EPC 666593 1 ** **CD single (Australia) Epic 6668542 ** Cassette single **12-inch vinyl single UK: Sony XPR3297 **

Charts