Don't Look Back (Fine Young Cannibals song)

"Don't Look Back"
Single by Fine Young Cannibals
from the album The Raw & the Cooked
B-side	"You Never Know"
Released	25 August 1989
Genre	Pop, rock
Length	3:43
Label	I.R.S.
Songwriter(s)	Roland Gift, David Steele
Producer(s)	Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals singles chronology
"Good Thing" (1989) "Don't Look Back" (1989) "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" (1989)

"Don't Look Back" is a song by British pop-rock band Fine Young Cannibals. It was released as the third single from the band's 1988 album The Raw & the Cooked. The song reached the top 40 charts in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Music and lyrics

Written by lead vocalist Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, the lyrics of "Don't Look Back" are mostly pessimistic, and depict someone who tries desperately to leave their difficult past behind them without looking back.[1] While the band's previous two hits, the US number ones "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing", were influenced by American rhythm and blues, "Don't Look Back" features guitar riffs that are more reminiscent of The Byrds and The Beatles.[1]

Release and reception

Released in August 1989, "Don't Look Back" hit number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, [2] number 8 on the Singles Sales chart, number 18 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, number 9 on the Modern Rock chart[3] and number 10 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart.[4] The song peaked at number 10 on the Canadian Singles Chart in October.[5] It also reached number 34 in the UK,[6] number 23 in New Zealand, and number 38 in Australia.[7]

Track listing

7" vinyl (Europe, Australasia)

1. "Don't Look Back" - 3:43
2. "You Never Know" - 4:27

7" vinyl (US, Canada)

1. "Don't Look Back" - 3:36
2. "As Hard As It Is" - 3:10

12" vinyl, CD maxi-single

1. "Don't Look Back" (12" mix) - 5:50
2. "You Never Know" - 4:27
3. "Don't Look Back" (7" mix) - 3:43

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1989) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 38 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[11] 34 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 11 US Dance Music/Club Play 26 US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12] 38 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12] 9 U.S. Cash Box 10 West Germany (GfK)[13] 29

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 71

References

1. Thompson, Dave. ""Don't Look Back" - Song Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-16.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010 (13th Ed.). Prometheus Global Media. ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.
3. "Fine Young Cannibals - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-16.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
5. "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. 50 (23). RPM Music Publications Ltd. 1989-10-02. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
6. Strong, Martin Charles (2002). The Great Rock Discography (6th ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. ISBN 978-1-84195-312-0.
7. "Fine Young Cannibals - 'Don't Look Back'". Ultratop. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
8. "Fine Young Cannibals – Don't Look Back". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6585." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
10. "Fine Young Cannibals – Don't Look Back". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
12. "Don't Look Back (song by Fine Young Cannibals)". MusicVF.com. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Fine Young Cannibals – Don't Look Back" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
14. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. December 23, 1999. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.