Round Here – Counting Crows | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#31) & Modern Rock (#7); 1994
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Singer Adam Duritz took his band’s name from a line in the movie Signs Of Life, which, in turn, quoted it from an old English prayer that suggests life is as pointless as counting crows.
Counting Crows itself was built around the core duo of Adam and guitarist Matt Malley, who’d played together as Sordid Humor. Their folk sensibilities and poetic leanings produced uniquely literate music, much like that of Van Morrison for whom they filled in at the 1993 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, singing Caravan.
Early that year they recorded August And Everything After, with T-Bone Burnette in the producer’s chair. When it was released in September, critics and fans alike poured over the songs endlessly, as if it were a classic album from the 1960’s or 70’s.
The catchy Mr. Jones (#5 Pop & #2 Modern Rock) got the ball rolling, however, Round Here, the elegant follow-up, was more indicative of the album’s mood, and earned CC a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Group.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- T-Bone Burnett
Lyrics Written by:
- Steve Bowman
- David Bryson
- Adam Duritz
- Charlie Gillingham
- Matt Malley
- Dave Janusko
- Dan Jewett
- Chris Roldan
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).