Peak
13
Weeks
13
Score
1,972
Chart Year
1972
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)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 11, 1971 | 61 | 65 |
| 2 | Dec 18, 1971 | 51 | 75 |
| 3 | Dec 25, 1971 | 43 | 83 |
| 4 | Jan 1, 1972 | 36 | 90 |
| 5 | Jan 8, 1972 | 23 | 103 |
| 6 | Jan 15, 1972 | 22 | 104 |
| 7 | Jan 22, 1972 | 18 | 108 |
| 8 | Jan 29, 1972 | 17 | 109 |
| 9 | Feb 5, 1972 | 14 | 112 |
| 10 | Feb 12, 1972 | 13 | 113 |
| 11 | Feb 19, 1972 | 13 | 113 |
| 12 | Feb 26, 1972 | 19 | 107 |
| 13 | Mar 4, 1972 | 24 | 102 |