One for the Road (song)

For other songs, see One for the Road.

"One for the Road" is a song by English band Arctic Monkeys from their fifth studio album, AM. It was released on 9 December 2013 as the fourth single from the album.^[2] The single is available in the 7" vinyl format,^[3] and as a digital download, and features a B-side titled "You're So Dark". On 6 December 2013, Arctic Monkeys released the B-side's official audio track onto YouTube.^[4]

"One for the Road"
Single by Arctic Monkeys
from the album AM
B-side	"You're So Dark"
Released	9 December 2013 (2013-12-09)
Recorded	Sage & Sound Recording, Los Angeles, California Rancho De La Luna, Joshua Tree, California, Sputnik Sound, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre	Rock
Length	3:26
Label	Domino
Composer(s)	Jamie Cook Matt Helders Nick O'Malley Alex Turner[1]
Lyricist(s)	Alex Turner
Producer(s)	James Ford Ross Orton
Arctic Monkeys singles chronology
"Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" (2013) "One for the Road" (2013) "Arabella" (2014)
Music video
"One for the Road" on YouTube

Music and composition

"One for the Road" is a rock song^[5][6] with R&B influences.^[7] Featuring backing vocals from rock musician and Humbug producer Josh Homme,^[8] the song also features influences from Homme's band, Queens of the Stone Age.^[6] The song starts with high-pitched "woo" sounds performed by drummer Matt Helders and continues with "a bluesy chunky riff" and "Americana-tinged rockabilly twang."^[9]

Music video

A music video for the song, filmed in Mendota, Illinois,^[10] was released on 23 October 2013.^[11] It was shot in black-and-white, and directed by Focus Creeps, with whom the band previously worked on several videos in 2011 and 2012, including the NME Award-winning video for "R U Mine?".^[12] The video shows Arctic Monkeys guitarist Jamie Cook driving tractors in three-piece suits, the band striking poses in a cornfield, and a party featuring models and fireworks.^[3]

On the video, Aaron Brown of Focus Creeps said: "It's really just a remake of "R U Mine?", but on a hi-fi camera, but then they have this lo-fi cars, which are tractors."^[13]

Track listing

7", digital download^[14]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"One for the Road"	3:26
2.	"You're So Dark"	3:02

All lyrics are written by Alex Turner; all music is composed by Arctic Monkeys^[1]

Personnel

Arctic Monkeys

• Alex Turner – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, tambourine
• Jamie Cook – lead and rhythm guitar
• Nick O'Malley – bass guitar, baritone guitar, backing vocals
• Matt Helders – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• James Ford – keyboards, tambourine
• Josh Homme – backing vocals (track 1)

Charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15]	76
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16]	112
UK Indie (OCC)[17]	14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[19]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date	Format(s)	Label
United Kingdom[2]	9 December 2013	7" vinyl digital download	Domino
United States[3]	10 December 2013

References

1. AM (liner notes). Arctic Monkeys . 2013.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. "Arctic Monkeys ride tractors in 'One For The Road' video – watch". NME. 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
3. Grow, Kory (24 October 2013). "Arctic Monkeys Get Farm Fresh in 'One for the Road'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
4. "Arctic Monkeys - You're So Dark (Official Audio)". YouTube. 6 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
5. Breihan, Tom (24 October 2013). "Arctic Monkeys – "One For The Road" Video". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
6. Wright, Mic (10 September 2013). "Arctic Monkeys - AM". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
7. Williams, Mike (5 September 2013). "Arctic Monkeys - 'AM'". NME. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
8. Harper, Simon (27 August 2013). "Arctic Monkeys - AM". Clash. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
9. "Track By Track Review: Arctic Monkeys - AM". Gigwise. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
10. "Mendota Reporter British Invasion - Rock band shoots music video in Mendota". Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
11. "Arctic Monkeys - One For The Road (Official Video)". YouTube. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
12. "The Arctic Monkeys 'One For The Road' by Focus Creeps". Promonews. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
13. Pinto, Natália (2014). "Director ID - Focus Creeps". Pitchfork.
14. "One For the Road - Single by Arctic Monkeys". iTunes. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
15. "Arctic Monkeys – One for the Road" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
16. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart: CLUK Update 21.12.2013 (wk50)". Zobbel.de. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
17. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
18. "British single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – One for the Road". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
19. "American single certifications – Arctic Monkeys – One for the Road". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 20 November 2024.