The Scottish Twins
Formed in 1983 by Scottish twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, The Proclaimers built a sound that stood apart from much of the polished pop of the era. Their direct lyrics, distinctive harmonies and strong Scottish identity gave their tunes a character all of their own.
Their debut album, This Is the Story, arrived in 1987. Recorded at the iconic Air Studios in London, it introduced the duo to a wider audience, particularly through Letters from America, which reached No. 2 in Ireland and No. 3 in the U.K.
Their follow-up album, Sunshine on Leith, appeared in 1988 and included the tune that would define their career: I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
The Parody Became a Bigger Hit Than the Original
Initially released as a single from Sunshine on Leith in 1988, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) reached No. 11 on the U.K. charts. It actually did better in Australia, New Zealand and Iceland, where it topped the charts. Not the first places you might expect a Scottish singalong to conquer…
Five years later, the track got a second chance when it featured in the film Benny & Joon, starring Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson. This exposure helped it reach No. 3 in the U.S.
Then, in 2007, English comedian Peter Kay recorded a parody version with Matt Lucas for the annual Comic Relief charity event. Their characters performed in wheelchairs, changing the lyric from “walk” to “roll”. The charity single reached No. 1 in the U.K., giving the tune an entirely new chart triumph.
Worldwide sales of 500 Miles have now exceeded two million, and the royalties it generates have reportedly dwarfed the earnings from the rest of the band’s catalogue combined. If that’s not a signature song, I don’t know what is!
But with all this chart success, I still believe it’s working bands all over the world playing it every Saturday that has truly cemented its longevity.
The reason it’s so beloved by bands is that audience-participation section, when everyone can scream: “Da-da-da da!” At that point, it barely matters whether the audience knows the verses, they don’t, but they’re in.
More Than 500 Miles
Of course, The Proclaimers are much more than one enormous singalong. Their catalogue includes plenty of distinctive songwriting, and they have continued releasing albums, including Dentures Out in 2022. While few later songs have matched the cultural impact of 500 Miles or Letters from America, the brothers have maintained a loyal following and a career built on their own terms.
They have also shown a knack for interpreting other artists’ material. Their covers include Otis Redding’s These Arms of Mine, The Temptations’ Get Ready, which featured in the film Dumb and Dumber, and Roger Miller’s King of the Road.
For guitarists, 500 Miles is a great example of how a straightforward arrangement can become something much bigger than the sum of its parts.
Get the rhythm consistent, keep the energy building and leave room for the audience to join in. It’s a reminder that building a repertoire isn’t about learning impressive guitar parts; it’s about knowing which songs can bring a whole room together.
The Proclaimers Tunes | Related Pages
Get Ready | Chords + TAB
You can learn Get Ready by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, backing tracks, TAb, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| F5 | Bb | G5 | C |
And I’m bringing you a love that’s true so get ready, so get ready…
Check it out how the main riff is taught in the course for FREE here: Get Ready | Guitar Lesson – Step 2.
I’m Gonna Be (500) Miles | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play I’m Gonna Be (500) Miles by The Proclaimers using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| E | E |
When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be…
King Of The Road | Chords + TAB
You can learn King Of The Road by Roger Miller using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Bb | Eb | F | Bb |
Trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, 50 cents…
The Proclaimers on the web
