Dark & Long

{{Short description|1994 single by Underworld}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox song | name = Dark & Long | cover = underworld_darklongUK.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]] | album = [[dubnobasswithmyheadman]] | B-side = "215 Miles", "Burts", "Dark Hard", "Dark Train", "Spoon Deep", "Most 'Ospitable", "Thing in a Book" | released = {{start date|1994|6|13|df=y}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=25|date=11 June 1994}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = | venue = | length = | label = [[Junior Boy's Own]] | writer = [[Rick Smith (musician)|Rick Smith]], [[Karl Hyde]], [[Darren Emerson]] | producer = Rick Smith, Karl Hyde, Darren Emerson | prev_title = [[Spikee]] | prev_year = 1993 | next_title = [[Cowgirl (Underworld song)|Cowgirl]] | next_year = 1994 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = Alternative cover | type = single | cover = underworld_darklongAPR.jpg | border = | alt = April Records CD | caption = 1994 April Records CD }} }} {{Album ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dark--long-single-r343719|title = Dark & Long [Single] – Underworld | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|publisher = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref> | rev2 = Starpulse | rev2Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Underworld/Discography/album/P14596/R359168/ {{Dead link|date=March 2022}}</ref> }}

"'''Dark & Long'''" is a song by British electronic music group [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]] and the opening track on their third studio album, ''[[dubnobasswithmyheadman]]'' (1994). The band released a number of versions of the track, including the "Dark Train" mix, which was later made popular through its inclusion in the 1996 film ''[[Trainspotting (film)|Trainspotting]].''

== Writing == [[Karl Hyde]] wrote the lyrics over a long period of time, with some dating to when he was staying in [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota following the breakup of "Underworld Mk 1" in 1990. Portions were also written on a train to Underworld's studio in [[Romford]], [[Greater London]]. Hyde stated that his apparent obsession with waitresses, addressed in the lyrics of "Dark & Long", "[[Confusion the Waitress]]" and "[[1992–2012 The Anthology|The Big Meat Show]]", among others, was because he felt they were "very very important" as they "put you right when you need a place to rest". He also said the section where he comments "what a laugh" was inspired by his fascination with the accent in East London, where the band were based, as he had been based elsewhere prior to the founding of Underworld.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Singer and the Song {{!}} Learning English {{!}} BBC World Service |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/music/singersong/karlhyde2.shtml |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

== Release and legacy == The original UK release was on two 12" vinyl records and one CD single. A CD EP, featuring an additional track not released in the UK, was released on Scandinavian label April Records. The single entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number 57 on 25 June 1994 for one week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_U.HTM |title=Chart Log UK |accessdate=21 June 2008}}</ref> Excluding the album version and edit of it, seven band-made versions of the song were included on the original release. A remix of the "Thing in a Book" version, titled "Second Hand", would appear on the ''[[List of Café del Mar compilations|Café Del Mar (Ibiza)]]'' album, also released in 1994.

The "Dark Train" mix of "Dark & Long" became best known due to its use in the 1996 film ''[[Trainspotting (film)|Trainspotting]]'', which also featured the Underworld song "[[Born Slippy Nuxx]]". "Dark Train" appears in a scene where the main character [[Mark Renton]] ([[Ewan McGregor]]) is going through [[Opioid withdrawal|heroin withdrawal]]. This created renewed interest in the song – alongside a much greater interest in "Born Slippy Nuxx" – which led to "Dark Train" being included in the film's second [[Trainspotting (soundtrack)|soundtrack album]], as well as many other compilations such as ''[[Northern Exposure (album)|Northern Exposure]]''.

"Dark Train" and the Darren Price and [[High Contrast]] Remix of "Dark & Long" both appeared during the athletes' march at [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|the opening ceremony]] of the London 2012 Olympics and on its soundtrack album ''[[Isles of Wonder (album)|Isles of Wonder]]''.

In 2021, Underworld released a new version of "Dark Train", titled "Drift 2 Dark Train", as part of their ''[[Drift (Underworld project)|Drift]]'' series.

British artist [[PinkPantheress]] sampled the "Dark Train" version in the song "[[Illegal (PinkPantheress song)|Illegal]]", the third single from her 2025 mixtape ''[[Fancy That]]''.

== Track listings == All tracks were written, mixed and produced by [[Rick Smith (musician)|Rick Smith]], Karl Hyde, and [[Darren Emerson]] unless otherwise noted.

* '''12-inch vinyl 1''' # "Dark & Long" (Dark Train) – 10:21 # "Dark & Long" (Burts) – 8:47

* '''12-inch vinyl 2''' # "Dark & Long" (Spoon Deep) – 17:58 # "Dark & Long" (Thing in a Book) – 20:12

* '''CD single''' # "Dark & Long" (Hall's edit) – 4:08 (Hyde/Smith) # "Dark & Long" (Dark Train) – 9:51 # "Dark & Long" (Most 'Ospitable) – 5:52 # "Dark & Long" (215 Miles) – 20:02

* '''April Records EP''' # "Dark & Long" (7-inch) – 4:07 (Hyde/Smith) # "Dark & Long" (Thing in a Book) – 20:12 # "Dark & Long" (Spoon Deep) – 17:58 # "Dark & Long" (Dark Hard) – 11:30 # "Dark & Long" (Dark Train) – 10:28 # "Dark & Long" (Burts) – 8:47

* '''12-inch vinyl 3 (2021)''' # "Dark & Long" (Drift 2 Dark Train) – 10:11 # "Dark & Long" (Most 'Ospitable 2014 Remaster) – 5:57 # "Dark & Long" (Dark Train 2014 Remaster) – 9:53 The length of "Dark Train" varies from release to release, however the full length version, as featured on the compilation ''[[Underworld 1992–2002|1992–2002]]'', is 10:51.

== Charts == {|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Chart (1994) ! Peak positions |- | [[UK Singles Chart|UK Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]]) |align="center"|57 |- | [[UK Dance Chart|UK Dance]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]]) |align="center"|34 |- | [[UK Dance Singles Chart|UK Dance]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-06-25.pdf |title= Dance Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 25 June 1994 |page= 28 |accessdate= 25 April 2021}}</ref> |align="center"|4 |- | [[Record Mirror Club Chart|UK Club Chart]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-06-25.pdf|title=The ''RM'' Club Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=25 June 1994|page=6|accessdate=17 May 2023}}</ref> |align="center"|85 |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark and Long}} [[Category:Underworld (band) songs]] [[Category:1994 singles]] [[Category:1994 songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Darren Emerson]] [[Category:Songs written by Karl Hyde]] [[Category:Songs written by Rick Smith (musician)]]