Don't Look Back into the Sun

"Don't Look Back into the Sun" is a song released by the Libertines as their fourth single. NME magazine awarded it single of the week upon its release.^[2] "Don't Look Back into the Sun" was released as a single only, therefore not appearing on any albums.

"Don't Look Back into the Sun"
Single by the Libertines
Released	18 August 2003 (2003-08-18)[1]
Genre	Garage rock
Length	2:58
Label	Rough Trade
Songwriter(s)	Pete Doherty, Carl Barât
Producer(s)	Bernard Butler
The Libertines singles chronology
"Time for Heroes" (2003) "Don't Look Back into the Sun" (2003) "Can't Stand Me Now" (2004)

Release

The single was released in three versions in the United Kingdom featuring a re-recording of "Death on the Stairs" produced by Bernard Butler. With "Death on the Stairs" present the single was sometimes labeled as "Don't Look Back into the Sun"/"Death on the Stairs".

In various territories "Don't Look Back into the Sun" was released as an EP combining various UK B-sides on a single CD. It was also released as a seven track EP in Japan, featuring the music video for the song "I Get Along" as the eighth track.

In 2007 it was covered by The View on the BBC Radio 1 Established 1967 album, with the song representing the year 2003.

Reception

In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Don't Look Back into the Sun" at number five in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever, one place ahead of the Libertines' "Time for Heroes".^[3] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 71 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".^[4]

In popular culture

"Don't Look Back into the Sun" was used on the re-cap for some episodes of the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, as well as at the end of the first episode of The Inbetweeners,^[5]

Track listings

7-inch

1. "Don't Look Back into the Sun" – 2:59
2. "Death on the Stairs" – 3:43
   • Re-recorded version

CD 1

1. "Don't Look Back into the Sun" – 2:59
2. "Death on the Stairs" – 3:43
   • Re-recorded version
3. "Tell the King" (Original Demo Version) – 3:44

CD 2

1. "Don't Look Back into the Sun" – 2:59
2. "Skint and Minted" (Demo) – 3:35
3. "Mockingbird" – 3:14

Spanish EP

1. "Don't Look Back into the Sun" – 2:59
2. "Death on the Stairs" – 3:43
   • Re-recorded version
3. "Tell the King" (Original Demo Version) – 3:44
4. "Skint and Minted" (Demo) – 3:35

Australian EP

1. "Don't Look Back into the Sun" – 2:59
2. "Death on the Stairs" – 3:43
   • Re-recorded version
3. "Tell the King" (Original Demo Version) – 3:44
4. "Skint and Minted" (Demo) – 3:35
5. "Mockingbird" – 3:14

Japanese EP

1. "Don't Look Back into the Sun" – 2:59
2. "Death on the Stairs" – 3:43
   • Re-recorded version
3. "Skint and Minted" (Demo) – 3:35
4. "General Smuts" (Demo) – 3:31
5. "Mr. Finnegan" (Demo) – 1:51
6. "7 Deadly Sins" (Demo) – 2:50
7. "Plan A" – 3:22
8. I Get Along (Music Video)

Personnel

The Libertines

• Carl Barât – guitar, vocals
• Pete Doherty – vocals
• John Hassall – bass
• Gary Powell – drums

Additional personnel

• Bernard Butler - guitar, production

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Scotland (OCC)[6]	14
UK Singles (OCC)[7]	11
UK Indie (OCC)[8]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[9]	Platinum	600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 August 2003. p. 27. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
2. Archived 21 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
3. "The Greatest Indie Anthem Ever revealed". NME. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
4. "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". NME. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
5. "The Inbetweeners - Music - series 1 episode 1". E4.com. 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
8. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
9. "British single certifications – Libertines – Don't Look Back into the Sun". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 April 2021.