Anticipation

Album

Anticipation

Label

Elektra Records

Genre

Rock

Composer(s)

Carly Simon

Entered Chart

Dec 11, 1971

Peak Date

Feb 12, 1972

Released

November 25, 1971

Recorded

1971 Studio Morgan Studios

Catalog #

Elektra 45759

B-Side

The Garden

In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Carly said she wrote this song about Cat Stevens while she was waiting for him to pick her up for their first date. Simon was opening for Stevens at the Troubadour in Los Angeles; she invited him to come by her apartment for their date after the show, and he accepted. As time ticked by, Simon got peeved and vented her frustration by writing this song. When Stevens did show up, it marked the beginning of a loving relationship Simon spoke of fondly many years later. She ended up marrying James Taylor in 1972. >> This song is very much about living in the moment. Simon isn't sure this relationship is going to last, but she decides to just enjoy it while they're together. "These are the good old days," goes the refrain at the end. This song was revived in a series of Heinz ketchup commercials in the late '70s, including one starring a young Corey Feldman. Heinz ketchup is thick and pours very slowly. In the commercials, a person would be shown waiting for the ketchup to come out of the bottle as the chorus of "Anticipation" played in the background. For this reason, many people think of this song as "The Ketchup Song." >> This was Simon's second single, following "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be," the only single released from her self-titled debut album. "Anticipation" was released ahead of her second album, and did indeed create some anticipation for it - it ended up being her first Gold album. She took it to a new level with her third album, No Secrets, the one with "You're So Vain." Simon's musical director Jimmy Ryan played bass on this track, but on the last verse he played guitar-style riffs on the instrument. The other personnel were Andy Newmark on drums, Paul Glanz on piano, and Simon on acoustic guitar and vocals. Report an ad Simon earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, but she lost to Helen Reddy for "I Am Woman." Simon recorded an acoustic version with her son, Ben Taylor, for her 2009 album, Never Been Gone. ABC used this song in a promotional campaign for The Connors, the show they launched with the cast of Roseanne after cutting ties with it star, Roseanne Barr.

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasin' after some finer day

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me late
Is keepin' me waitin'

And I tell you how easy it feels to be with you
And how right your arms feel around me
But I, I rehearsed those words just late last night
When I was thinkin' about how right tonight might be

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me late
Is keepin' me waitin'

And tomorrow we might not be together
I'm no prophet and I don't know nature's ways
So I'll try and see into your eyes right now
And stay right here 'cause these are the good old days

(These are the good old days)
And stay right here 'cause these are the good old days
(These are the good old days)
(These are the good old days)
(These are the good old days)
(These are the good old days)