315:
The song is about the joys of driving a lorry through a rainy night, until dawn. Although the chorus is based upon a gay liberation chant, this is not clear to the casual listener, so the song is in contrast to their far more blatantly political later songs, covering subjects such as
289:
Robinson wrote the song between leaving Café Society in 1976 and forming the Tom
Robinson Band the following year, at a time when he was performing with whichever friends were available on the night; thus, the song had to be simple enough to learn in a few minutes.
301:"' which he could not really remember. This led to the simple three-chord repeat of "2-4-6-8". The verse came from Robinson's memories of driving back to London through the night after gigs with Café Society: "By the time our van hit the last stretch of
378:
It was released in Europe, reaching No. 1 in Sweden on 27 January 1978, and staying at the top for 4 weeks, while in the US (Harvest 4533) has "2-4-6-8" on both sides. It was re-released on Old Gold in 1983 and on EMI in 1987, including a 12" version.
389:"2-4-6-8 Motorway" was not issued on a UK album at the time, and Robinson still rues what he calls the "fatal mistake" of omitting the band's most famous songs "2-4-6-8 Motorway" and "Glad to Be Gay" from their debut album
29:
312:
EMI initially turned the song down. However, after touring the band became much tighter, and guitarist Danny Kustow expanded his riffs, which persuaded EMI to release the record.
1060:
909:
834:
305:
into London the motorway sun really was coming up with the morning light." The numerical chants in the chorus were taken from a
1045:
340:
on 22 October 1977, and stayed on the chart for 9 weeks. This is
Robinson's highest charting single; his later (solo) single "
428:
372:
595:
336:"2-4-6-8 Motorway" was originally released on 7 October 1977 and immediately attracted attention. It rose to No. 5 in the
713:
818:
793:
360:
described the song as "somewhere between a terrace chant (or a demo marching song) and a Brucie
Springsteen number".
1040:
902:
865:
1050:
1055:
1035:
692:
895:
662:
227:
957:
298:
371:" which Robinson performed many times, including as part of the supergroup "The Secret Police" at
466:
620:
781:
309:
chant: "2, 4, 6, 8, Gay is twice as good as straight... 3, 5, 7, 9, Lesbians are mighty fine".
974:
759:
391:
738:
574:
8:
1030:
368:
842:
918:
814:
789:
454:
395:, although both songs appeared on a 12" bonus record included with the US release of
383:
294:
279:
259:
178:
60:
48:
40:
353:
337:
263:
96:
599:
346:
341:
165:
717:
1008:
949:
944:
542:
507:
357:
325:
321:
306:
255:
248:
115:
36:
221:
1024:
788:(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 254.
497:
487:
402:
The song has subsequently appeared on numerous compilation albums, including
939:
934:
530:
524:
275:
244:
157:
138:
28:
929:
536:
302:
106:
317:
151:
548:
364:
251:
171:
111:
887:
866:"Folkie Peter Stampfel Surveys the 20th Century in His Unique Style"
641:
982:
293:
Robinson came up with the tune 'trying to work out the chords to
802:
813:(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited.
682:
Sleeve notes to Tom
Robinson Band The Anthology 1977–1979
283:
143:
483:
The song has been covered by several bands, including:-
432:(2003), and is still a part of Robinson's live set.
598:. Queer Music Heritage. August 2004. Archived from
282:, who had formed in January 1977 and was signed to
1022:
278:. The song was the first single released by the
760:"Tom Robinson Concert Setlists and Tour Dates"
903:
577:. PRS for Music Online Magazine. 29 July 2011
910:
896:
512:Peter Stampfel’s 20th Century in 100 Songs
344:" reached No. 6. The band performed it on
27:
424:Tom Robinson Band The Anthology 1977–1979
350:on 27 October, and again on 10 November.
247:. It was released as a single in 1977 by
863:
857:
356:described it as an "instant hit" whilst
331:
808:
1023:
739:"Gig review of the Tabernacle Concert"
569:
567:
565:
1061:Song recordings produced by Vic Maile
917:
891:
274:The music and lyrics were written by
780:
382:The song also reached No. 13 on the
864:Horowitz, Steve (19 January 2021).
774:
562:
269:
13:
429:No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion
412:Last Tango, Midnight at the Fringe
14:
1072:
741:. Dave's Gig Reviews. 2 July 2013
716:. tomrobinson.com. Archived from
811:British Hit Singles & Albums
663:"Artist profile of Tom Robinson"
16:1977 single by Tom Robinson Band
827:
786:Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
752:
714:"Tom Robinson Albums 1975–2002"
762:. setlist.fm. 30 November 2019
731:
706:
693:"Vinyl 45 listing of releases"
685:
676:
655:
634:
621:"Tom Robinson's chart history"
613:
588:
1:
1046:Songs written by Tom Robinson
555:
518:
471:
459:
7:
373:The Secret Policeman's Ball
262:, and reached No. 5 in the
10:
1077:
642:"45 Cat entry for 2-4-6-8"
993:
966:
925:
623:. Official Charts Company
478:
435:
363:The B-side is a cover of
233:
220:
215:
211:
185:
177:
163:
149:
137:
121:
105:
95:
85:
74:October 7, 1977
70:
58:
46:
35:
26:
21:
384:Australian Singles Chart
1041:Tom Robinson Band songs
809:Roberts, David (2006).
467:Official Charts Company
835:"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
426:. It also appeared on
89:Berwick Street Studio
975:Power in the Darkness
397:Power in the Darkness
392:Power in the Darkness
332:Release and reception
328:("Long Hot Summer").
299:Couldn't Get It Right
101:Berwick street studio
66:"I Shall Be Released"
596:"August 2004 Script"
492:I Love Rock 'n' Roll
1051:EMI Records singles
845:on 31 December 2018
369:I Shall Be Released
1056:LGBT-related songs
1036:1977 debut singles
872:. PopMatters Media
665:. Robert Christgau
575:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
223:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
181:singles chronology
54:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
22:"2-4-6-8 Motorway"
1018:
1017:
919:Tom Robinson Band
839:Showaddywaddy.net
476:
475:
455:Kent Music Report
295:Climax Blues Band
280:Tom Robinson Band
260:Tom Robinson Band
237:
236:
207:
206:
179:Tom Robinson Band
91:14 September 1977
41:Tom Robinson Band
1068:
1002:2-4-6-8 Motorway
912:
905:
898:
889:
888:
882:
881:
879:
877:
861:
855:
854:
852:
850:
841:. Archived from
831:
825:
824:
806:
800:
799:
778:
772:
771:
769:
767:
756:
750:
749:
747:
746:
735:
729:
728:
726:
725:
710:
704:
703:
701:
700:
689:
683:
680:
674:
673:
671:
670:
659:
653:
652:
650:
649:
638:
632:
631:
629:
628:
617:
611:
610:
608:
607:
592:
586:
585:
583:
582:
571:
465:United Kingdom (
440:
439:
354:Robert Christgau
338:UK Singles Chart
286:in August 1977.
270:Song information
264:UK Singles Chart
241:2-4-6-8 Motorway
224:
194:2-4-6-8 Motorway
187:
186:
168:
154:
133:
132:
128:
81:
79:
63:
51:
31:
19:
18:
1076:
1075:
1071:
1070:
1069:
1067:
1066:
1065:
1021:
1020:
1019:
1014:
989:
962:
921:
916:
886:
885:
875:
873:
862:
858:
848:
846:
833:
832:
828:
821:
807:
803:
796:
779:
775:
765:
763:
758:
757:
753:
744:
742:
737:
736:
732:
723:
721:
712:
711:
707:
698:
696:
695:. Vinyl45LP.com
691:
690:
686:
681:
677:
668:
666:
661:
660:
656:
647:
645:
640:
639:
635:
626:
624:
619:
618:
614:
605:
603:
594:
593:
589:
580:
578:
573:
572:
563:
558:
521:
481:
447:
438:
386:in early 1978.
347:Top of the Pops
334:
272:
243:" is a song by
222:
202:
197:
164:
150:
130:
126:
125:
90:
77:
75:
59:
47:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1074:
1064:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1009:Glad to Be Gay
1005:
997:
995:
991:
990:
988:
987:
979:
970:
968:
964:
963:
961:
960:
958:Charlie Morgan
955:
952:
950:Preston Heyman
947:
945:Dolphin Taylor
942:
937:
932:
926:
923:
922:
915:
914:
907:
900:
892:
884:
883:
856:
826:
819:
801:
794:
773:
751:
730:
705:
684:
675:
654:
633:
612:
587:
560:
559:
557:
554:
553:
552:
546:
543:Dolphin Taylor
540:
539:– organ, piano
534:
528:
527:– vocals, bass
520:
517:
516:
515:
508:Peter Stampfel
505:
495:
480:
477:
474:
473:
470:
462:
461:
458:
450:
449:
444:
437:
434:
420:Home from Home
408:The Collection
358:David Quantick
333:
330:
326:civil disorder
322:Glad to Be Gay
307:Gay Liberation
271:
268:
235:
234:
231:
230:
218:
217:
216:Official audio
213:
212:
209:
208:
205:
204:
201:"Rising Free"
199:
190:
183:
182:
175:
174:
169:
161:
160:
155:
147:
146:
141:
135:
134:
123:
119:
118:
109:
103:
102:
99:
93:
92:
87:
83:
82:
72:
68:
67:
64:
56:
55:
52:
44:
43:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1073:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1028:
1026:
1010:
1006:
1003:
999:
998:
996:
992:
985:
984:
980:
977:
976:
972:
971:
969:
967:Studio albums
965:
959:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
931:
928:
927:
924:
920:
913:
908:
906:
901:
899:
894:
893:
890:
871:
867:
860:
844:
840:
836:
830:
822:
820:1-904994-10-5
816:
812:
805:
797:
795:0-646-11917-6
791:
787:
783:
777:
761:
755:
740:
734:
720:on 2014-06-05
719:
715:
709:
694:
688:
679:
664:
658:
643:
637:
622:
616:
602:on 2007-07-05
601:
597:
591:
576:
570:
568:
566:
561:
550:
547:
544:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
526:
523:
522:
513:
509:
506:
503:
499:
496:
493:
489:
488:Showaddywaddy
486:
485:
484:
468:
464:
463:
456:
452:
451:
445:
443:Chart (1978)
442:
441:
433:
431:
430:
425:
421:
417:
416:Winter of '89
413:
409:
405:
400:
398:
394:
393:
387:
385:
380:
376:
374:
370:
366:
361:
359:
355:
351:
349:
348:
343:
339:
329:
327:
323:
319:
313:
310:
308:
304:
300:
296:
291:
287:
285:
281:
277:
267:
265:
261:
257:
253:
250:
246:
242:
232:
229:
225:
219:
214:
210:
200:
195:
191:
189:
188:
184:
180:
176:
173:
170:
167:
162:
159:
156:
153:
152:Songwriter(s)
148:
145:
142:
140:
136:
124:
120:
117:
113:
110:
108:
104:
100:
98:
94:
88:
84:
73:
69:
65:
62:
57:
53:
50:
45:
42:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1001:
981:
973:
940:Tom Robinson
935:Danny Kustow
874:. Retrieved
869:
859:
847:. Retrieved
843:the original
838:
829:
810:
804:
785:
776:
764:. Retrieved
754:
743:. Retrieved
733:
722:. Retrieved
718:the original
708:
697:. Retrieved
687:
678:
667:. Retrieved
657:
646:. Retrieved
636:
625:. Retrieved
615:
604:. Retrieved
600:the original
590:
579:. Retrieved
531:Danny Kustow
525:Tom Robinson
511:
501:
491:
482:
427:
423:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
401:
396:
390:
388:
381:
377:
362:
352:
345:
335:
314:
311:
292:
288:
276:Tom Robinson
273:
245:Tom Robinson
240:
238:
193:
158:Tom Robinson
954:Nick Plytas
930:Mark Ambler
849:30 December
782:Kent, David
537:Mark Ambler
453:Australia (
422:(1999) and
404:Rising Free
166:Producer(s)
1031:1977 songs
1025:Categories
870:PopMatters
745:2014-08-05
724:2014-08-05
699:2014-08-05
669:2014-08-05
648:2014-08-05
627:2014-08-05
606:2014-08-05
581:2014-08-05
556:References
551:– producer
318:homophobia
258:group the
78:1977-10-07
549:Vic Maile
519:Personnel
448:position
375:in 1979.
365:Bob Dylan
252:punk rock
172:Vic Maile
112:Punk rock
784:(1993).
766:3 August
533:– guitar
418:(1992),
414:(1988),
410:(1987),
406:(1980),
342:War Baby
256:new wave
116:new wave
86:Recorded
71:Released
983:TRB Two
644:. 45cat
545:– drums
324:") and
249:British
228:YouTube
203:(1978)
198:(1977)
76: (
986:(1979)
978:(1978)
817:
792:
514:(2021)
504:(2003)
498:Trucks
494:(2006)
479:Covers
436:Charts
122:Length
97:Studio
61:B-side
49:A-side
37:Single
994:Songs
876:5 May
502:Juice
139:Label
107:Genre
878:2021
851:2018
815:ISBN
790:ISBN
768:2020
446:Peak
367:'s "
297:'s "
460:13
284:EMI
226:on
144:EMI
39:by
1027::
868:.
837:.
564:^
510::
500::
490::
472:5
469:)
457:)
399:.
320:("
303:M1
266:.
196:"
131:20
114:,
1011:"
1007:"
1004:"
1000:"
911:e
904:t
897:v
880:.
853:.
823:.
798:.
770:.
748:.
727:.
702:.
672:.
651:.
630:.
609:.
584:.
254:/
239:"
192:"
129::
127:3
80:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
