Broken Arrow (Robbie Robertson song)

"Broken Arrow"
Song by Robbie Robertson
from the album Robbie Robertson
Released1987 (1987)
StudioAshcombe House (Swainswick, Somerset)
Length5:23
LabelGeffen
SongwriterRobbie Robertson
Producers
Audio
"Broken Arrow" on YouTube

"Broken Arrow" is a song by Canadian musician Robbie Robertson, included on his debut solo studio album, Robbie Robertson (1987). Although it was not released as a single, it received airplay in Canada in mid-1988 and reached number 29 on the RPM Top Cancon Singles chart, which ranked songs of Canadian content only. The song was also included as the B-side on the UK formats of "Somewhere Down the Crazy River".[1][2]

"Broken Arrow" was later popularized by English singer-songwriter Rod Stewart, who included a cover of the track on his 1991 album Vagabond Heart. Stewart's version was released as a single and became a hit in several countries, peaking at number two in Canada and number 20 in the United States. In 1992, this version was released again as a double A-side with Stewart's cover of Elton John's "Your Song" and charted in several additional countries.

Starting in 1993, the Grateful Dead began to incorporate the song into their live setlists at the suggestion of their bassist Phil Lesh.[3]

Background

After the conclusion of the album's recording sessions with members of U2 in Ireland, Robertson went to Peter Gabriel's studio in Bath, Somerset and proceeded to work on "Broken Arrow", which at the time had been written by not recorded. The sessions in Bath included Robertson, Gabriel, Daniel Lanois, and David Bottrill, who served as the session's audio engineer.[4]

Gabriel assisted with the drum programming on a LinnDrum, which was responsible for the detuned tambourine sound. Some of the percussion also came from acoustic instruments, including one that Bottrill described as a "hairy drum" owned by Gabriel. A Delta Lab DL2 unit was used on some of Gabriel's instruments, which included a Prophet 5 and some piano. Further instrumentation, including the drums, bass, and guitars, were recorded in Los Angeles.[4] When discussing his audio production inclinations, Lanois commented that "Broken Arrow" was a song that was "presented with one angle, and then that is contrasted or undermined by something ominous, something that you feel more than you hear."[5]

Critical reception

Bill Flanagan of Musician magazine called the song "a fragile mood piece full of longing and melancholy" and said that "it might be the most beautiful song he's ever written."[6] Mark Prendergast referred to "Broken Arrow" as the album's "finest achievement and a contemporary songwriting masterpiece." He praised Robertson's vocal delivery as "perfect: husky, beseeching, and full of that lived-in feeling" and thought that Lanois's production work was kinetically true to the spirit of the piece".[4]

Billboard ranked "Broken Arrow" ninth on its list ranking Robertson's best songs both as a member of The Band and as a solo artist, calling the song "one of Robertson's most romantic songs". They also felt that the song sounded "atmospheric and dreamy" and "a little forbidden and clandestine, adding to its appeal."[7] Rolling Stone included the song on its list of Robertson' best songs in his recording career and that it possessed "one of his most beautiful and sensual melodies."[8]

Personnel

Charts

Rod Stewart version

"Broken Arrow"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album Vagabond Heart
A-side"Your Song" (1992)
B-side
ReleasedAugust 26, 1991 (1991-08-26)
Studio
Length4:26
LabelWarner Bros.
SongwriterRobbie Robertson
ProducerPatrick Leonard
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"The Motown Song"
(1991) 		"Broken Arrow"
(1991) 		"Rebel Heart"
(1991)
"People Get Ready"
(1992)
"Your Song" / "Broken Arrow"
(1992)
"Tom Traubert's Blues (Waltzing Matilda)"
(1992)
Music video
"Broken Arrow" on YouTube

Rod Stewart covered "Broken Arrow" and included it as the third track on his 16th studio album, Vagabond Heart (1991).[11] On August 26, 1991, it was released as the fourth single from the album by Warner Records. This version became a chart hit, rising to number two on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Stewart's 21st top-20 hit on the latter chart.[12] In the United Kingdom, the song originally reached number 54 on the UK Singles Chart, but in 1992, it was re-released as a double A-side single with Stewart's cover of "Your Song", originally by Elton John; this release peaked at number 41 on the same chart.

Track listings

  • UK 7-inch and cassette single (1991)[13][14]
  1. "Broken Arrow"
  2. "I Was Only Joking"
  1. "Broken Arrow" (edit)
  2. "The Killing of Georgie Pt 1 & 2"
  3. "I Was Only Joking"
  • UK 7-inch and cassette single (1992)[17][18]
  1. "Your Song"
  2. "Broken Arrow"
  1. "Your Song"
  2. "Broken Arrow"
  3. "Mandolin Wind"
  4. "The First Cut Is the Deepest"

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Vagabond Heart album booklet.[21]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Release history

Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom "Broken Arrow" August 26, 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 10-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Warner Bros. [39]
Australia October 7, 1991
  • CD
  • cassette
 [40]
United Kingdom "Your Song" / "Broken Arrow" April 6, 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [41]
Japan June 25, 1992 Mini-CD [42]

References

  1. ^ Somewhere Down the Crazy River (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Geffen Records. 1988. GEF 40, 927 822-7.
  2. ^ Somewhere Down the Crazy River (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Geffen Records. 1988. GEF 40T.
  3. ^ Trager, Oliver (1997). The American Book of The Dead. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-684-81402-5.
  4. ^ a b c Prendergast, Mark (June 1988). "Robbie Robertson". Sound on Sound. pp. 55–56. Retrieved December 7, 2025 – via Mu:zines.
  5. ^ Henke, James (December 17, 1987). "Q&A: Daniel Lanois". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  6. ^ Flanagan, Bill (September 1987). "The Return of Robbie Robertson" (PDF). Musician. p. 96. Retrieved December 6, 2025 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ Renner Brown, Eric; Newman, Melinda; Rys, Dan; Unterberger, Andrew (August 9, 2023). "Robbie Robertson's 10 Best Songs, With The Band & Solo". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  8. ^ "Robbie Robertson: 20 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. August 9, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "Top Cancon Singles". RPM. August 27, 1988. Retrieved May 15, 2025 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  10. ^ "RPM 125 Cancon Hits: A Quarter-Century of Cancon". RPM. April 7, 1992. Retrieved May 15, 2025 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  11. ^ "Vagabond Heart: Rod Stewart". AllMusic. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Rod Stewart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  13. ^ Broken Arrow (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Warner Bros. Records. 1991. W 0059, 5439-19153-7.
  14. ^ Broken Arrow (UK cassette single sleeve). Warner Bros. Records. 1991. W0059C, 5439-19153-4.
  15. ^ Broken Arrow (UK 10-inch single sleeve). Warner Bros. Records. 1991. W 0059 (TE).
  16. ^ Broken Arrow (UK CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. 1991. W 0059 CD, 9362-40198-2.
  17. ^ Your Song / Broken Arrow (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W 0104, 5439-18907-7.
  18. ^ Your Song / Broken Arrow (UK cassette single sleeve). Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W0104C, 5439-18907-4.
  19. ^ Your Song / Broken Arrow (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W 0104(T).
  20. ^ Your Song / Broken Arrow (UK CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W0104CD, 9362-40450-2.
  21. ^ Vagabond Heart (US CD album booklet). Warner Bros. Records. 1991. 9 26300-2.
  22. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 1696". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  24. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 2028". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  25. ^ "European Hit Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 39. September 28, 1991. p. 35. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  26. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Broken Arrow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  28. ^ "Rod Stewart – Broken Arrow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Rod Stewart Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  30. ^ "Playlist Chart" (PDF). Music Week. September 21, 1991. p. 16. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  31. ^ "Rod Stewart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  32. ^ "Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996" (PDF). popmusichistory.co.uk. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  33. ^ "Rod Stewart – Your Song" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  34. ^ "Rod Stewart – Your Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  35. ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved May 15, 2025 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  36. ^ "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved May 15, 2025 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  37. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved May 15, 2025 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  38. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-38.
  39. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 24, 1991. p. 19.
  40. ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 07/10/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 89. October 6, 1991. p. 19.
  41. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 4, 1992. p. 17.
  42. ^ "ロッド・スチュワート | 僕の歌は君の歌" [Rod Stewart | My Song Is Your Song] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
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