Broken Arrow (Robbie Robertson song)

"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"
Song by Robbie Robertson
from the album Robbie Robertson
Released	1987 (1987)
Length	5:23
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Robbie Robertson
Producer(s)	Daniel Lanois Robbie Robertson
Audio
"Broken Arrow" on YouTube

"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.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1988) Peak position Canada Top Cancon Singles (RPM)[3] 29

All-time charts Chart (1967–1992) Position Canada Cancon Hits (RPM)[4] 67

Rod Stewart version

"Broken Arrow"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album Vagabond Heart
A-side	"Your Song" (1992)
B-side	"I Was Only Joking", "The Killing of Georgie Pt 1 & 2" (1991) "Mandolin Wind", "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (1992)
Released	August 26, 1991 (1991-08-26)
Studio	Cherokee, Conway (Hollywood, California) Sarm (London, England)
Length	4:26
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Robbie Robertson
Producer(s)	Patrick 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.^[5] On August 26, 1991, it was released as the fourth single from the album. 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.^[6] 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)^[7][8]

1. "Broken Arrow"
2. "I Was Only Joking"

UK 10-inch and CD single (1991)^[9][10]

1. "Broken Arrow" (edit)
2. "The Killing of Georgie Pt 1 & 2"
3. "I Was Only Joking"

UK 7-inch and cassette single (1992)^[11][12]

1. "Your Song"
2. "Broken Arrow"

UK 12-inch and CD single (1992)^[13][14]

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.^[15]

Studios

• Recorded at Cherokee Studio, Conway Studio (Hollywood, California), and Sarm Studio (London, England)
• Mastered at Precision Mastering (Los Angeles)

Personnel

• Robbie Robertson – writing
• Twinkle Schascle – backing vocals
• Tim Pierce – guitars
• Jimmy Johnson – bass
• Patrick Leonard – keyboards, production
• Jim Keltner – drums
• Luis Conte – percussion
• Lenny Waronker – co-production
• Jerry Jordan – mixing, engineering
• Marc Moreau – engineering assistance
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts "Broken Arrow" Chart (1991–1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[16] 63 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[18] 2 Germany (GfK)[19] 71 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 21 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 26 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 54 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 20 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] 3 "Your Song" / "Broken Arrow" Chart (1992) Peak position France (SNEP)[24] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 60 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 41

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[26] 48 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[27] 66 Chart (1992) Position Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[28] 57 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29] 27

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.	[30]
United Kingdom	"Your Song" / "Broken Arrow"	April 6, 1992	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[31]
Japan		June 25, 1992	Mini-CD		[32]