Peak
52
Weeks
6
Score
417
Chart Year
1984
In America, Big Country is known as a one-hit-wonder, that hit being "In A Big Country," which was in heavy rotation on MTV. In their native UK, however, they had three bigger hits: "Wonderland" (#8), "Chance" (#9) and "Fields of Fire." "Fields of Fire," released in America after "In A Big Country," got just tepid airplay in that country, as the video was largely ignored by MTV. A band composition, lead singer Stuart Adamson claimed that the song wasn't intended to tell a coherent story. "It's a selection of images," he told Smash Hits. "Thoughts on a train journey." Originally written in the key of D, producer Steve Lillywhite had the band tune their instruments up one full note to the key of E to create a higher vocal range for singer Stuart Adamson. When playing live, the band performs this song in the key of D. This song was originally titled "400 Miles." When it was written, Adamson and Bruce Watson were taking regular trips from Edinborough, Scotland, to London. The distance between these cities is approximately 400 miles, and that distance is prominent in the chorus: Four hundred miles Without a word until you smile
1, 2 1, 2, 3, 4 Between a father and a son Between the city and the one Before the teacher and the test Before the journey and the rest The shining eye will never cry The beating heart will never die The house on fire holds no shame I will be coming home again Four hundred miles Without a word until you smile Four hundred miles On fields of fire Between a woman and a boy Between a child and his toy Between a woman and a boy Between a child and a toy Before the falling of the West Before the journey and the rest Four hundred miles Without a word until you smile Four hundred miles Without a word until you smile Four hundred miles On fields of fire
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 4, 1984 | 78 | 48 |
| 2 | Feb 11, 1984 | 69 | 57 |
| 3 | Feb 18, 1984 | 55 | 71 |
| 4 | Feb 25, 1984 | 52 | 74 |
| 5 | Mar 3, 1984 | 52 | 74 |
| 6 | Mar 10, 1984 | 82 | 44 |