The Rolling Stones' Classic Song: Don't Sleep In The Subway

Don't Sleep in the Subway is a song by British singer Petula Clark, released in April 1967. It was written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent and was Clark's final appearance at #1 on an official national chart. The song's unique construction from three different sections of music composed by Hatch and its varying musical styles—from pop to symphonic to Beach Boys-like melodies—make it stand out. The lyrics advise against storming out after an argument due to foolish pride, warning of sleeping in the subway or standing in the pouring rain as a result. The song has been referenced in popular culture, including in an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus and Malcolm in the Middle. Additionally, an album by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges, released in 1967, also shares the same name.

Written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a song written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent and recorded by Petula Clark, who released it as a single in April 1967. The song is a narrative about a woman advising her partner not to storm out after an argument due to his "foolish pride". The lyrics warn him that if he does, he will be sleeping in the subway or "standing in the pouring rain" just to prove his point.

The song is constructed from three different sections of music previously composed by Hatch, with distinct shifts in musical style from pop to symphonic, and then to a Beach Boys-like melody for the chorus. Interestingly, the term "subway" in the song refers to the American meaning of an underground transit system, rather than the English meaning of a pedestrian underpass. According to co-writer Jackie Trent, the title lyric was inspired by the 1961-62 Broadway musical "Subways Are For Sleeping".

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" was a commercial success, peaking at #5 on the US charts in June 1967 and becoming Clark's final US Top Ten single. It also topped the Billboard Easy Listening chart, following the success of her previous single "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love". The song was well-received, earning a 1968 Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Song, although it lost to "Up, Up and Away" by The 5th Dimension.

Beyond Petula Clark, "Don't Sleep in the Subway" has been recorded by numerous other artists, including Betty Chung, Rita Hovink, Marilyn Maye, Matt Monro, Patti Page, Frank Sinatra, and Caterina Valente. The song has also appeared in popular culture, including in the TV shows Monty Python's Flying Circus and Malcolm in the Middle, showcasing its lasting impact and cultural relevance.

Recorded by Petula Clark

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a song that was recorded by Petula Clark and released as a single in April 1967. The song was written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent. Clark cited the song as one of her favourites from among her hits.

The song is constructed from three different sections of music previously composed by Hatch, and it changes in style from pop to symphonic and then to a Beach Boys-like melody for the chorus. The lyrics feature a narrator advising her sweetheart against storming out after an argument due to his "foolish pride". If he does, he will sleep in the subway or "stand in the pouring rain" to prove his point.

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" peaked at #5 on the US charts in June or July 1967, becoming Clark's final US Top Ten single. It was also her second of two #1 hits on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. The song reached #12 in the UK, #3 in Rhodesia, #5 in Canada, #7 in New Zealand, #10 in South Africa, and #16 in Germany. In Australia, the song was Clark's final #1 hit, topping the charts on 16 and 23 September 1967.

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" has been recorded by several other artists, including Betty Chung, Rita Hovink, Marilyn Maye, Matt Monro, Patti Page, Frank Sinatra, and Caterina Valente. A Spanish version, "No duermas en el metro", was recorded by Gelu and Los Stop, and a Swedish version, "Sov Inte På Tunnelbanan", was recorded by Siw Malmkvist in 1970. The song has also been featured in popular culture, including in an episode of *Monty Python's Flying Circus* and an episode of *Malcolm in the Middle*.

Released as a single in April 1967

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a popular song written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, who were a husband-and-wife songwriting team. It was originally written for British singer David Bowie, but it was ultimately recorded and popularised by British singer Petula Clark. The song was released as a single in April 1967 and became an international hit, reaching number five on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

The single's April 1967 release coincided with a period of great success for Clark, who had already achieved a string of hits in the 1950s and early 1960s. "Don't Sleep in the Subway" built on the success of her previous single, "This Is My Song," which had topped the UK charts just a few months earlier. With its catchy melody and upbeat lyrics, "Don't Sleep in the Subway" proved to be another popular addition to Clark's repertoire.

The song's lighthearted message and upbeat tempo made it a favourite among listeners, and it received extensive airplay on radio stations around the world. The single's release was accompanied by a promotional film, directed by Peter Yates, which featured Clark performing the song in a lighthearted and playful manner. This visual element added to the song's popularity and helped to propel it up the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the United States, "Don't Sleep in the Subway" became Clark's sixth top-ten single, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1967. It spent a total of 12 weeks on the chart, receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies. The song also charted highly in other countries, reaching number one in Canada and South Africa, and peaking within the top ten in Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The song's success led to Clark performing it on a number of television shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, helping to further promote the single and maintain its popularity. "Don't Sleep in the Subway" has since become a enduring favourite in Clark's extensive catalogue of hits and remains a beloved example of 1960s pop music.

Grammy nomination for best contemporary song

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" is a song that received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Song in 1968. The song was written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent and recorded by British singer Petula Clark, who released it as a single in April 1967.

The song is constructed from three different sections of music previously composed by Hatch, with changes in musical style from pop to symphonic and then to a Beach Boys-like melody for the chorus. The lyrics feature a narrator advising her sweetheart against storming out after an argument due to his "foolish pride". If he does, she warns that he will sleep in the subway or stand in the pouring rain to prove his point.

The term "subway" in the song refers to an underground transit system, as used in North American English, rather than the English meaning of a pedestrian underpass. This usage was inspired by the 1961-62 Broadway musical "Subways Are For Sleeping", from which co-writer Jackie Trent drew the title lyric.

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" peaked at #5 on the US charts in June 1967, becoming Clark's final US Top Ten single. It also reached #1 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, marking her second of two #1 hits on that chart. In the UK, the song peaked at #12, a decline from her previous single "This Is My Song", which had spent two weeks at #1.

"Don't Sleep in the Subway" was nominated for a Grammy but lost to "Up, Up and Away" by The 5th Dimension. The song has been recorded by several other artists, including Betty Chung, Rita Hovink, Marilyn Maye, Matt Monro, Patti Page, Frank Sinatra, and Caterina Valente. It has also appeared in popular culture, including the TV shows Monty Python's Flying Circus and Malcolm in the Middle, and was performed by Rachel Berry and Artie Abrams in the 2014 Glee episode "New New York".

Featured in Glee

The song was featured in the Glee episode "Special Education," the ninth episode of the show's second season, which first aired on November 30, 2010. In the episode, the song is performed by two of the show's lead characters, Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer). The performance takes place during a special boot camp organized by the New Directions, the show's glee club, in preparation for the upcoming Sectionals competition.

The episode's plot revolves around the New Directions' efforts to defend their Sectionals championship title. Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), the club's director, arranges for a boot camp to intensify their preparations. During the boot camp, Rachel and Kurt, who are both vying for the lead solo spot for the competition, engage in a "diva-off," each performing a song to showcase their vocal prowess and impress Will.

Rachel performs "Don't Sleep in the Subway" as her choice for the diva-off. She steps onto the stage in a sophisticated outfit, exuding a confident and sultry demeanor. Her performance is passionate and emotive, showcasing her powerful vocals and expressive range. Rachel connects with the song's sentiment, conveying the longing and plea in the lyrics through her expressive eyes and subtle gestures.

As Rachel sings, the camera captures the reactions of the other club members, who are visibly impressed by her performance. Finn (Cory Monteith), Rachel's love interest, watches her with a mixture of admiration and concern, aware of the intense competition between Rachel and Kurt. Kurt, on the other hand, observes Rachel's performance with a determined expression, knowing that he has to deliver an equally impressive performance to match her.

Following Rachel's performance, Kurt performs "Le Jazz Hot!" from the musical Victor/Victoria. His performance is equally captivating, showcasing his unique style and vocal talent. The episode continues with the boot camp and the build-up to the Sectionals competition, with the outcome of the diva-off and the lead solo spot remaining uncertain until the very end.

The inclusion of "Don't Sleep in the Subway" in Glee added a touch of classic pop elegance to the episode. Lea Michele's rendition showcased the song's enduring appeal and allowed her to display her vocal versatility within the context of the show's diverse musical repertoire.

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